Anti-tlr4 antibodies and uses thereof

ABSTRACT

Disclosed are antibodies that specifically bind Toll-like Receptor 4 (TLR-4), and to methods of using the anti-TLR4 antibodies as therapeutics and diagnostic agents.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.17/201,756, filed Mar. 15, 2021, which is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 16/517,016, filed Jul. 19, 2019, now issued as U.S.Pat. No. 10,982,004, which is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 15/276,202, filed Sep. 26, 2016, and issued as U.S. Pat. No.10,400,044, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/853,158, filed Mar. 29, 2013 and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,453,076,which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/617,164,filed Mar. 29, 2012; the contents of each of which is incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety.

INCORPORATION OF SEQUENCE LISTING

The contents of the text file named“NOVI-028_C04US_SequenceListing.txt”, which was created on Nov. 11, 2021and is 90.0 KB in size, are hereby incorporated by reference in theirentirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to antibodies that specifically bindToll-like Receptor 4 (TLR-4), and to methods of using the anti-TLR4antibodies as therapeutics and diagnostic agents.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Toll receptors, first discovered in Drosophila, are type I transmembraneprotein having leucine-rich repeats (LRRs) in the extracellular portionof the protein, and one or two cysteine-rich domains. The mammalianhomologs of the Drosophila Toll receptors are known as “Toll-likereceptors” (TLRs). TLRs play a role in innate immunity by recognizingmicrobial particles and activating immune cells against the source ofthese microbial particles.

In humans, eleven Toll-like receptors, TLRs 1-11, have been identifiedand are characterized by the homology of their intracellular domains tothat of the IL-1 receptor, and by the presence of extracellularleucine-rich repeats. The different types of TLRs are activated bydifferent types of microbial particles. For example, TLR4 is primarilyactivated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS), while TLR2 is activated bylipoteichoic (LTA), lipoarabinomannan (LAM); lipoprotein (BLP), andpeptideglycans (PGN). Toll receptor homologs, such as RP105, have alsobeen identified.

TLR4 has been shown to associate with an accessory protein, myeloiddifferentiation protein-2 (MD-2). This protein has been found tointeract directly with TLR4, and MD-2 has the ability to enablepost-translational modifications of TLR4, as well as facilitate itstransport to the cell surface. TLR4 and MD-2 form a complex on the cellsurface.

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a component of gram-negative bacteria, is amicrobial particle capable of strongly activating the innate immunesystem. LPS delivers signals to immune cells via its multi-chainreceptor, comprising the TLR4/MD-2 complex as the principle signalingcomponent.

Accordingly, there exists a need for methods and compositions that bindto TLR4 and modulate signaling that is mediated by the TLR4/MD-2complex.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides monoclonal antibodies recognizing human and/orcynomolgus monkey TLR4/MD-2 receptor expressed on the cell surface. Theantibodies are capable of blocking, e.g., neutralizing, receptoractivation and subsequent intracellular signaling induced TLR4 ligands,e.g., LPS. Antibodies of the invention include antibodies that bindhuman and cynomolgus monkey TLR4/MD-2 receptor complex and also bindTLR4 independently of the presence of MD-2.

The present invention provides monoclonal antibodies that specificallybind to human and/or cynomolgus monkey TLR4/MD-2 receptor expressed onthe cell surface and capable of blocking receptor activation andsubsequent intracellular signaling induced by LPS. Exemplary monoclonalantibodies include: 1A1, 1A6, 1B12, 1C7, 1C10, 1C12, 1D10, 1E11, 1E11N103D, 1G12, 1E11.C1, 1E11.C2, 1E11.C3, 1E11.C4, 1E11.C5, 1E11.C6,1E11.E1, 1E11.E2, 1E11.E3, 1E11.E4, 1E11.E5, 1E11.C2E1, 1E11.C2E3,1E11.C2E4 and 1E11.C2E5.

These antibodies have distinct specificities. Some antibodies showspecificity for both the human and cynomolgus monkey TLR4 and/or boththe human and cynomolgus monkey TLR4/MD-2 receptor complex, and theyhave been shown to inhibit receptor activation and subsequentintracellular signaling via LPS. For example, 1C12, 1E11, 1E11 N103D,1E11.C1, 1E11.C2, 1E11.C3, 1E11.C4, 1E11.C5, 1E11.C6, 1E11.C2E1,1E11.C2E2, 1E11.C2E3, 1E11.C2E4 and 1E11.C2E5 bind both human andcynomolgus monkey TLR4 independently of the presence of human orcynomolgus monkey MD-2. 1A1, 1A6, 1B12, 1C7, 1C10, 1D10 and 1G12 onlybind to cynomolgus monkey TLR4 independently of the presence ofcynomolgus monkey MD-2. 1E11.E1, 1E11.E2, 1E11.E3, 1E11.E4 and 1E11.E5bind only to human TLR4 independently of the presence of human MD-2.These antibodies are respectively referred to herein as TLR4 antibodies.

The humanized antibodies of the invention contain a heavy chain variableregion having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14,16, 18, 20, 22, 67, 69, 71, 73, 75, 77, 89, 93, 97 or 101. The humanizedantibodies of the invention contain a light chain variable region havingthe amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4, 79, 81, 83, 85 or 87.

The three heavy chain CDRs include an amino acid sequence at least 90%,92%, 95%, 97% 98%, 99% or more identical to a variable heavy chaincomplementarity determining region 1 (VH CDR1, also referred to hereinas CDRH1) amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting ofG(F/Y)PI(R/G/W)(Y/F/G)GYS (SEQ ID NO: 110), GYSITGGYS (SEQ ID NO: 25);GFPIRYGYS (SEQ ID NO: 55); GYPIRFGYS (SEQ ID NO: 56); GYPIRHGYS (SEQ IDNO: 57); GFPIGQGYS (SEQ ID NO: 58); GYPIWGGYS (SEQ ID NO: 59) andGYPIGGGYS (SEQ ID NO: 60), a variable heavy chain complementaritydetermining region 2 (VH CDR2, also referred to herein as CDRH2) aminoacid sequence of IHYSGYT (SEQ ID NO: 26); and a variable heavy chaincomplementarity determining region 3 (VH CDR3, also referred to hereinas CDRH3) amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting ofARKDSG(N/Q/D/E)X₁X₂PY (SEQ ID NO: 111) where X₁ and X₂ are eachindependently any hydrophobic amino acid, ARKDSGNYFPY (SEQ ID NO: 27);ARKDSGRLLPY (SEQ ID NO: 28); ARKDSGKWLPY (SEQ ID NO: 29); ARKDSGHLMPY(SEQ ID NO: 30); ARKDSGHNYPY (SEQ ID NO: 31); ARKDSGKNFPY (SEQ ID NO:32); ARKDSGQLFPY (SEQ ID NO: 33); ARKDSGHNLPY (SEQ ID NO: 34);ARKDSGDYFPY (SEQ ID NO: 35) and ARKDSGRYWPY (SEQ ID NO: 36). The threelight chain CDRs include an amino acid sequence at least 90%, 92%, 95%,97% 98%, 99% or more identical to a variable light chain complementaritydetermining region 1 (VL CDR1, also referred to herein as CDRL1) aminoacid sequence of QSISDH (SEQ ID NO: 37); a variable light chaincomplementarity determining region 2 (VL CDR2, also referred to hereinas CDRL2) amino acid sequence of YAS (SEQ ID NO: 38); and a variablelight chain complementarity determining region 3 (VL CDR3, also referredto herein as CDRL3) amino acid sequence selected from the groupconsisting of QQG(Y/N)(D/E)(F/Y)PXT (SEQ ID NO: 112) where X is anyhydrophobic amino acid, QQGHSFPLT (SEQ ID NO: 39); QQGNDFPVT (SEQ ID NO:61); QQGYDEPFT (SEQ ID NO: 62); QQGYDFPFT (SEQ ID NO: 63); QQGYDYPFT(SEQ ID NO: 64) and QQGYEFPFT (SEQ ID NO: 65). The antibodies bind tohuman and cynomolgus monkey TLR4/MD-2 complex, to human and cynomolgusTLR4 when not complexed with human and cynomolgus MD-2, to humanTLR4/MD-2 complex, to human TLR4 when not complexed with human MD-2, tocynomolgus monkey TLR4/MD-2 complex or cynomolgus TLR4 when notcomplexed with cynomolgus MD-2.

The anti-TLR4 antibodies of the invention also include antibodies thatinclude a heavy chain variable amino acid sequence that is at least 90%,92%, 95%, 97%, 98%, 99% or more identical the amino acid sequence of SEQID NO: 2, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 67, 69, 71, 73, 75, 77, 89,93, 97 or 101, and/or a light chain variable amino acid that is at least90%, 92%, 95%, 97%, 98%, 99% or more identical the amino acid sequenceof SEQ ID NO: 4, 79, 81, 83, 85 or 87.

Antibodies of the invention specifically bind human and/or cynomolgusmonkey TLR4 and/or human and/or cynomolgus monkey TLR4/MD-2 complexes,wherein the antibody binds to an epitope that includes one or more aminoacid residues on human and/or cynomolgus monkey TLR4 between residues289 and 375 of SEQ ID NO: 23 (human TLR4) and/or SEQ ID NO: 24(cynomolgus TLR4). For example, TLR4 antibodies specifically bind to anepitope that includes residue 349 of SEQ ID NO: 23 (human) and/or SEQ IDNO: 24 (cynomolgus). In some embodiments, the epitope also includesadditional residues, for example, residues selected from the groupconsisting of at least residues 328 and 329 of SEQ ID NO: 23 (human)and/or SEQ ID NO: 24 (cynomolgus); at least residue 351 of SEQ ID NO: 23(human) and/or SEQ ID NO: 24 (cynomolgus); and at least residues 369through 371 of SEQ ID NO: 23 (human) and/or SEQ ID NO: 24 (cynomolgus),and any combination thereof.

In some embodiments, the invention provides an isolated antibody thatspecifically binds Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), wherein the antibodybinds to an epitope that includes at least residue 349 of SEQ ID NO: 23and an epitope that includes at least residue 349 of SEQ ID NO: 24. Insome embodiments, the antibody includes a heavy chain with threecomplementarity determining regions (CDRs) including a variable heavychain complementarity determining region 1 (CDRH1) amino acid sequenceof GYSITGGYS (SEQ ID NO: 25); a variable heavy chain complementaritydetermining region 2 (CDRH2) amino acid sequence of IHYSGYT (SEQ ID NO:26); and a variable heavy chain complementarity determining region 3(CDRH3) amino acid sequence of ARKDSG(X₁)(X₂)(X₃)PY (SEQ ID NO: 111),where X₁ is N, Q, D or E, X₂ is any hydrophobic amino acid, and X₃ isany hydrophobic amino acid; and a light chain with three CDRs includinga variable light chain complementarity determining region 1 (CDRL1)amino acid sequence of QSISDH (SEQ ID NO: 37); a variable light chaincomplementarity determining region 2 (CDRL2) amino acid sequence of YAS(SEQ ID NO: 38); and a variable light chain complementarity determiningregion 3 (CDRL3) amino acid sequence of QQGHSFPLT (SEQ ID NO: 39). Insome embodiments, the epitope further includes at least residues 328 and329 of SEQ ID NO: 23 and SEQ ID NO: 24. In some embodiments, the epitopefurther includes at least residue 351 of SEQ ID NO: 23 and SEQ ID NO:24. In some embodiments, the epitope further includes one or moreresidues between residues 369 through 371 of SEQ ID NO: 23 and SEQ IDNO: 24. In some embodiments, the epitope further includes at leastresidues 369 through 371 of SEQ ID NO: 23 and SEQ ID NO: 24. In someembodiments, the antibody specifically binds to an epitope that includesat least residues 328, 329, 349, 351 and 369 through 371 of SEQ ID NO:23 and SEQ ID NO: 24. In some embodiments, the antibody further includesan amino acid substitution in the gamma heavy chain constant region atEU amino acid position 325 and an amino acid substitution at EU aminoacid position 328. In some embodiments, the amino acid substituted at EUamino acid position 325 is serine, and wherein the amino acidsubstituted at EU amino acid position 328 is phenylalanine.

The invention also provides isolated antibodies that specifically bindToll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), wherein the antibody binds to an epitopethat includes at least residue 349 of SEQ ID NO: 23, and wherein theantibody exhibits an EC50 value for binding to human TLR4 that is lowerthan the EC50 value exhibited by a reference antibody having thevariable heavy chain amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 43 and thevariable light chain amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4. In someembodiments, the EC50 value for binding to human TLR4 is determined by acompetitive ELISA. In some embodiments, the antibody exhibits an EC50value for binding to human TLR4 that is at least tenfold lower than theEC50 value exhibited by the reference antibody. In some embodiments, theantibody further specifically binds an epitope that includes at leastresidue 349 of SEQ ID NO: 24. In some embodiments, the antibody includesa heavy chain with three complementarity determining regions (CDRs)including a variable heavy chain complementarity determining region 1(CDRH1) amino acid sequence of G(X₁)PI(X₂)(X₃)GYS (SEQ ID NO: 110),where X₁ is F or Y, X₂ is R, G or W, X₃ is Y, F or G; a variable heavychain complementarity determining region 2 (CDRH2) amino acid sequenceof IHYSGYT (SEQ ID NO: 26); and a variable heavy chain complementaritydetermining region 3 (CDRH3) amino acid sequence of ARKDSG(X₁)(X₂)(X₃)PY(SEQ ID NO: 111), where X₁ is N, Q, D or E, X₂ is any hydrophobic aminoacid, and X₃ is any hydrophobic amino acid; and a light chain with threeCDRs including a variable light chain complementarity determining region1 (CDRL1) amino acid sequence of QSISDH (SEQ ID NO: 37); a variablelight chain complementarity determining region 2 (CDRL2) amino acidsequence of YAS (SEQ ID NO: 38); and a variable light chaincomplementarity determining region 3 (CDRL3) including the amino acidsequence of QQG(X₁)(X₂)(X₃)P(X₄)T (SEQ ID NO: 112), where X₁ is Y or N,X₂ is D or E, X₃ is F or Y, and X₄ is any hydrophobic amino acid, or theamino acid sequence of QQGHSFPLT (SEQ ID NO: 39). In some embodiments,the antibody further includes an amino acid substitution in the gammaheavy chain constant region at EU amino acid position 325 and an aminoacid substitution at EU amino acid position 328. In some embodiments,the amino acid substituted at EU amino acid position 325 is serine, andwherein the amino acid substituted at EU amino acid position 328 isphenylalanine. In some embodiments, the TLR4 antibodies also bind thehuman and/or cynomolgus monkey TLR4/MD-2 complex.

The invention also provides isolated antibodies that specifically bindToll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), wherein the antibody binds to an epitopethat includes at least residue 349 of SEQ ID NO: 23 and binds to anepitope that includes at least residue 349 of SEQ ID NO: 24, and whereinthe antibody exhibits an EC₅₀ value for binding to human TLR4 that islower than the EC50 value exhibited by a reference antibody having thevariable heavy chain amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 43 and thevariable light chain amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4. In someembodiments, the EC₅₀ value for binding to human TLR4 is determined by acompetitive ELISA. In some embodiments, the antibody exhibits an EC₅₀value for binding to human TLR4 that is at least tenfold lower than theEC₅₀ value exhibited by the reference antibody. In some embodiments, theantibody further specifically binds an epitope that includes at leastresidue 349 of SEQ ID NO: 24. In some embodiments, the antibody includesa heavy chain with three complementarity determining regions (CDRs)including a variable heavy chain complementarity determining region 1(CDRH1) amino acid sequence of G(X₁)PI(X₂)(X₃)GYS (SEQ ID NO: 110),where X₁ is F or Y, X₂ is R, G or W, X₃ is Y, F or G; a variable heavychain complementarity determining region 2 (CDRH2) amino acid sequenceof IHYSGYT (SEQ ID NO: 26); and a variable heavy chain complementaritydetermining region 3 (CDRH3) amino acid sequence of ARKDSG(X₁)(X₂)(X₃)PY(SEQ ID NO: 111), where X₁ is N, Q, D or E, X₂ is any hydrophobic aminoacid, and X₃ is any hydrophobic amino acid; and a light chain with threeCDRs including a variable light chain complementarity determining region1 (CDRL1) amino acid sequence of QSISDH (SEQ ID NO: 37); a variablelight chain complementarity determining region 2 (CDRL2) amino acidsequence of YAS (SEQ ID NO: 38); and a variable light chaincomplementarity determining region 3 (CDRL3) including the amino acidsequence of QQG(X₁)(X₂)(X₃)P(X₄)T (SEQ ID NO: 112), where X₁ is Y or N,X₂ is D or E, X₃ is F or Y, and X₄ is any hydrophobic amino acid, or theamino acid sequence of QQGHSFPLT (SEQ ID NO: 39). In some embodiments,the antibody further includes an amino acid substitution in the gammaheavy chain constant region at EU amino acid position 325 and an aminoacid substitution at EU amino acid position 328. In some embodiments,the amino acid substituted at EU amino acid position 325 is serine, andwherein the amino acid substituted at EU amino acid position 328 isphenylalanine. In some embodiments, the TLR4 antibodies also bind thehuman and/or cynomolgus monkey TLR4/MD-2 complex.

The invention also provides isolated antibodies that specifically bindToll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) of SEQ ID NO: 23, wherein the antibody on awild-type human IgG1 Fe backbone exhibits an IC 50 value for inhibitionof LPS activation of human TLR4 in a human whole blood assay that islower than the IC₅₀ value exhibited by a reference antibody having thevariable heavy chain amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 43 and thevariable light chain amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4. In someembodiments, the antibody exhibits an IC₅₀ value for inhibition of LPSactivation of human TLR4 that is at least twofold lower than the IC₅₀value exhibited by the reference antibody. In some embodiments, theantibody includes a heavy chain with three complementarity determiningregions (CDRs) including a variable heavy chain complementaritydetermining region 1 (CDRH1) amino acid sequence of G(X₁)PI(X₂)(X₃)GYS(SEQ ID NO: 110), where X₁ is F or Y, X₂ is R, G or W, X₃ is Y, F or G;a variable heavy chain complementarity determining region 2 (CDRH2)amino acid sequence of IHYSGYT (SEQ ID NO: 26); and a variable heavychain complementarity determining region 3 (CDRH3) amino acid sequenceof ARKDSG(X₁)(X₂)(X₃)PY (SEQ ID NO: 111), where X₁ is N, Q, D, X₂ is anyhydrophobic amino acid, and X₃ is any hydrophobic amino acid; and alight chain with three CDRs including a variable light chaincomplementarity determining region 1 (CDRL1) amino acid sequence ofQSISDH (SEQ ID NO: 37); a variable light chain complementaritydetermining region 2 (CDRL2) amino acid sequence of YAS (SEQ ID NO: 38);and a variable light chain complementarity determining region 3 (CDRL3)including the amino acid sequence of QQG(X₁)(X₂)(X₃)P(X₄)T (SEQ ID NO:112), where X₁ is Y or N, X₂ is D or E, X₃ is F or Y, and X₄ is anyhydrophobic amino acid, or the amino acid sequence of QQGHSFPLT (SEQ IDNO: 39). In some embodiments, the antibody binds to an epitope thatincludes at least residue 349 of SEQ ID NO: 23. In some embodiments, theantibody binds to an epitope that includes at least residue 349 of SEQID NO: 23 and binds to an epitope that includes at least residue 349 ofSEQ ID NO: 24. In some embodiments, the antibody further includes anamino acid substitution in the gamma heavy chain constant region at EUamino acid position 325 and an amino acid substitution at EU amino acidposition 328. In some embodiments, the amino acid substituted at EUamino acid position 325 is serine, and wherein the amino acidsubstituted at EU amino acid position 328 is phenylalanine. In someembodiments, the TLR4 antibodies also bind the human and/or cynomolgusmonkey TLR4/MD-2 complex.

The invention also provides isolated antibodies that specifically bindto Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), wherein the antibody includes a heavychain with three complementarity determining regions (CDRs) including avariable heavy chain complementarity determining region 1 (CDRH1) aminoacid sequence of G(X₁)PI(X₂)(X₃)GYS (SEQ ID NO: 110), where X₁ is F orY, X₂ is R, G or W, X₃ is Y, F or G; a variable heavy chaincomplementarity determining region 2 (CDRH2) amino acid sequence ofIHYSGYT (SEQ ID NO: 26); and a variable heavy chain complementaritydetermining region 3 (CDRH3) amino acid sequence of ARKDSG(X₁)(X₂)(X₃)PY(SEQ ID NO: 111), where X₁ is N, Q, D or E, X₂ is any hydrophobic aminoacid, and X₃ is any hydrophobic amino acid; and a light chain with threeCDRs including a variable light chain complementarity determining region1 (CDRL1) amino acid sequence of QSISDH (SEQ ID NO: 37); a variablelight chain complementarity determining region 2 (CDRL2) amino acidsequence of YAS (SEQ ID NO: 38); and a variable light chaincomplementarity determining region 3 (CDRL3) amino acid sequence ofQQG(X₁)(X₂)(X₃)P(X₄)T (SEQ ID NO: 112), where X₁ is Y or N, X₂ is D orE, X₃ is F or Y, and X₄ is any hydrophobic amino acid. In someembodiments, the antibody includes a CDRH1 amino acid sequence ofGYSITGGYS (SEQ ID NO: 25); GFPIRYGYS (SEQ ID NO: 55), GYPIRFGYS (SEQ IDNO: 56), GYPIRHGYS (SEQ ID NO: 57), GFPIGQGYS (SEQ ID NO: 58), GYPIWGGYS(SEQ ID NO: 59) or GYPIGGGYS (SEQ ID NO: 60); a CDRH2 amino acidsequence of IHYSGYT (SEQ ID NO: 26); and a CDRH3 amino acid sequenceselected from the group consisting of ARKDSGNYFPY (SEQ ID NO: 27);ARKDSGQLFPY (SEQ ID NO: 33); and ARKDSGDYFPY (SEQ ID NO: 35); a CDRL1amino acid sequence of QSISDH (SEQ ID NO: 37); a CDRL2 amino acidsequence of YAS (SEQ ID NO: 38); and a CDRL3 amino acid sequence ofQQGHSFPLT (SEQ ID NO: 39), QQGNDFPVT (SEQ ID NO: 61), QQGYDEPFT (SEQ IDNO: 62), QQGYDFPLT (SEQ ID NO: 63), QQGYDYPLT (SEQ ID NO: 64) orQQGYEFPLT (SEQ ID NO: 65). In some embodiments, the antibody furtherincludes an amino acid substitution in the gamma heavy chain constantregion at EU amino acid position 325 and an amino acid substitution atEU amino acid position 328. In some embodiments, the amino acidsubstituted at EU amino acid position 325 is serine, and wherein theamino acid substituted at EU amino acid position 328 is phenylalanine.In some embodiments, the TLR4 antibodies also bind the human and/orcynomolgus monkey TLR4/MD-2 complex.

The invention also provides isolated antibodies that specifically bind aToll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/MD-2 complex, wherein the antibody includesa heavy chain variable amino acid sequence selected from the groupconsisting of SEQ ID NOs: 2, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 67, 69,71, 73, 75 or 77 and includes a light chain variable amino acidincluding the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4, 79, 81, 83, 85 or 87.In some embodiments, the antibody includes a combination of a variableheavy chain amino acid sequence and a variable light chain amino acidsequence selected from the group consisting of: (a) a heavy chainvariable region including the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 6 and alight chain variable region including the amino acid sequence of SEQ IDNO: 4; (b) a heavy chain variable region including the amino acidsequence of SEQ ID NO: 8 and a light chain variable region including theamino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4; (c) a heavy chain variable regionincluding the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 10 and a light chainvariable region including the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4; (d) aheavy chain variable region including the amino acid sequence of SEQ IDNO: 12 and a light chain variable region including the amino acidsequence of SEQ ID NO: 4; (e) a heavy chain variable region includingthe amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 14 and a light chain variableregion including the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4; (f) a heavychain variable region including the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 16and a light chain variable region including the amino acid sequence ofSEQ ID NO: 4; (g) a heavy chain variable region including the amino acidsequence of SEQ ID NO: 18 and a light chain variable region includingthe amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4; (h) a heavy chain variableregion including the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 and a lightchain variable region including the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4;(i) a heavy chain variable region including the amino acid sequence ofSEQ ID NO: 20 and a light chain variable region including the amino acidsequence of SEQ ID NO: 4; (j) a heavy chain variable region includingthe amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 22 and a light chain variableregion including the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4; (k) a heavychain variable region including the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 67and a light chain variable region including the amino acid sequence ofSEQ ID NO: 4; (1) a heavy chain variable region including the amino acidsequence of SEQ ID NO: 69 and a light chain variable region includingthe amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4; (m) a heavy chain variableregion including the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 71 and a lightchain variable region including the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4;(n) a heavy chain variable region including the amino acid sequence ofSEQ ID NO: 73 and a light chain variable region including the amino acidsequence of SEQ ID NO: 4; (o) a heavy chain variable region includingthe amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 75 and a light chain variableregion including the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4; (p) a heavychain variable region including the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 77and a light chain variable region including the amino acid sequence ofSEQ ID NO: 4; (q) a heavy chain variable region including the amino acidsequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 and a light chain variable region including theamino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 79; (r) a heavy chain variable regionincluding the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 and a light chainvariable region including the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 81; (s)a heavy chain variable region including the amino acid sequence of SEQID NO: 2 and a light chain variable region including the amino acidsequence of SEQ ID NO: 83; (t) a heavy chain variable region includingthe amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 and a light chain variableregion including the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 85; (u) a heavychain variable region including the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2and a light chain variable region including the amino acid sequence ofSEQ ID NO: 87 (v) a heavy chain variable region including the amino acidsequence of SEQ ID NO: 69 and a light chain variable region includingthe amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 79; (w) a heavy chain variableregion including the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 69 and a lightchain variable region including the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:83; (x) a heavy chain variable region including the amino acid sequenceof SEQ ID NO: 69 and a light chain variable region including the aminoacid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 85; and (y) a heavy chain variable regionincluding the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 69 and a light chainvariable region including the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 87. Insome embodiments, the antibody further includes an amino acidsubstitution in the gamma heavy chain constant region at EU amino acidposition 325 and an amino acid substitution at EU amino acid position328. In some embodiments, the amino acid substituted at EU amino acidposition 325 is serine, and wherein the amino acid substituted at EUamino acid position 328 is phenylalanine. In some embodiments, the TLR4antibodies also bind the human and/or cynomolgus monkey TLR4/MD-2complex.

Preferably, the TLR4 antibodies are formatted in an IgG isotype. Morepreferably, the TLR4 antibodies are formatted in an IgG1 isotype. Anexemplary IgG1-formatted antibody is the IgG1-formatted 1E11 antibodycomprising the heavy chain sequence of SEQ ID NO: 40 and the light chainsequence of SEQ ID NO: 41, as shown below:

>1E11 Heavy Chain Amino Acid Sequence (SEQ ID NO: 40)QVQLQESGPGLVKPSDTLSLTCAVSGYSITGGYSW HWIRQPPGKGLEWMGYIHYSGYTDFNPSLKTRITISRDTSKNQFSLKLSSVTAVDTAVYYCARKDSGNYF PYWGQGTLVTVSSASTKGPSVFPLAPSSKSTSGGTAALGCLVKDYFPEPVTVSWNSGALTSGVHTFPAVL QSSGLYSLSSVVTVPSSSLGTQTYICNVNHKPSNTKVDKRVEPKSCDKTHTCPPCPAPELLGGPSVFLFP PKPKDTLMISRTPEVTCVVVDVSHEDPEVKFNWYVDGVEVHNAKTKPREEQYNSTYRVVSVLTVLHQDWL NGKEYKCKVSNKALPAPIEKTISKAKGQPREPQVYTLPPSREEMTKNQVSLTCLVKGFYPSDIAVEWESN GQPENNYKTTPPVLDSDGSFFLYSKLTVDKSRWQQGNVFSCSVMHEALHNHYTQKSLSLSPG >1E11 Light Chain Amino Acid Sequence(SEQ ID NO: 41) EIVLTQSPDFQSVTPKEKVTITCRASQSISDHLHWYQQKPDQSPKLLIKYASHAISGVPSRFSGSGSGTD FTLTINSLEAEDAATYYCQQGHSFPLTFGGGTKVEIKRTVAAPSVFIFPPSDEQLKSGTASVVCLLNNFY PREAKVQWKVDNALQSGNSQESVTEQDSKDSTYSLSSTLTLSKADYEKHKVYACEVTHQGLSSPVTKSFN RGEC

The anti-TLR4 antibodies described herein also include at least onespecific amino acid substitution within, for example, an Fc region or anFcR binding fragment thereof (e.g., a polypeptide having amino acidsubstitutions within an IgG constant domain) such that the modifiedantibody elicits alterations in antigen-dependent effector functionwhile retaining binding to antigen as compared to an unaltered antibody.For example, the altered antibodies elicit the prevention ofproinflammatory mediator release. In a preferred embodiment, the alteredantibodies are human and of the IgG1 isotype.

The anti-TLR4 antibodies of the invention include an altered antibody inwhich at least one amino acid residue in the constant region of the Fcportion of the antibody has been modified. For example, at least oneamino acid in the CH2 domain of the Fc portion has been replaced by adifferent residue, i.e., an amino acid substitution. In the alteredantibodies described herein, one or more of the amino acid residues thatcorrespond to residues 325, 326 and 328 is substituted with a differentresidue as compared to an unaltered antibody. The numbering of theresidues in the gamma heavy chain is that of the EU index (see Edelman,G. M. et al., 1969; Kabat, E, A., T. T. Wu, H. M. Perry, K. S.Gottesman, and C. Foeller., 1991. Sequences of Proteins of ImmunologicalInterest, 5th Ed. U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services, Bethesda,Md., NIH Publication n. 91-3242). In a preferred embodiment, EU aminoacid position 325 of the gamma heavy chain constant region issubstituted with serine, and EU amino acid position 328 of the gammaheavy chain constant region is substituted with phenylalanine, such thatthe EU positions 325 to 328 of the gamma heavy chain constant region ofthe altered human IgG1 antibody comprise the amino acid sequence SKAF(SEQ ID NO: 42).

The present invention also provides methods of treating or preventingpathologies associated with aberrant TLR4/MD-2 activation and/oraberrant LPS activity (e.g., aberrant pro-inflammatory cytokineproduction such as aberrant IL-8 production), or alleviating a symptomassociated with such pathologies, by administering a monoclonal antibodyof the invention (e.g., a murine monoclonal or humanized monoclonalantibody) to a subject in which such treatment or prevention is desired.The subject to be treated is, e.g., human. The monoclonal antibody isadministered in an amount sufficient to treat, prevent or alleviate asymptom associated with the pathology. The amount of monoclonal antibodysufficient to treat or prevent the pathology in the subject is, forexample, an amount that is sufficient to reduce LPS-induced productionof one or more pro-inflammatory cytokines (e.g., IL-6, IL-8). As usedherein, the term “reduced” refers to a decreased production of apro-inflammatory cytokine in the presence of a monoclonal antibody ofthe invention, wherein the production is, for example, localpro-inflammatory cytokine production (e.g., at a site of inflamedtissue) or systemic pro-inflammatory cytokine production. LPS-inducedproduction of a pro-inflammatory cytokine is decreased when the level ofpro-inflammatory cytokine production in the presence of a monoclonalantibody of the invention is greater than or equal to 5%, 10%, 20%, 25%,30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 90%, 95%, 99%, or 100% lower than acontrol level of pro-inflammatory cytokine production (i.e., the levelof pro-inflammatory cytokine production in the absence of the monoclonalantibody). Level of pro-inflammatory cytokine production is measured.Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the level ofpro-inflammatory cytokine production can be measured using a variety ofassays, including, for example, the methods described herein as well ascommercially available ELISA kits.

Pathologies treated and/or prevented using the monoclonal antibodies ofthe invention (e.g., a murine monoclonal or humanized monoclonalantibody) include, for example, sepsis induced by microbial products,acute inflammation, chronic inflammation (e.g., chronic inflammationassociated with allergic conditions and asthma), autoimmune diseases(e.g., IBD and atherosclerosis), ischemic injury with and withouttransplantation, kidney diseases (e.g., diabetic nephropathy), acutekidney injury and diseases in which stress, for example, cellularstress, induces the expression of endogenous soluble stress factors(e.g., Hsp60, fibronectin, heparan sulphate, hyaluronan, gp96,β-Defensin-2 and surfactant protein A). Pathologies in which stress, forexample, cellular stress induces the expression of endogenous solublestress factors include, for example, osteoarthritis and rheumatoidarthritis. Pathologies associated with stress, for example, cellularstress, can also occur in subjects and patients placed on respirators,ventilators and other respiratory-assist devices. Such pathologiesinclude, for example, ventilator-induced lung injury (“VILI”), alsoreferred to as ventilation-associated lung injury (“VALI”).

Pharmaceutical compositions according to the invention can include ananti-TLR4 antibody of the invention and a carrier. These pharmaceuticalcompositions can be included in kits, such as, for example, diagnostickits.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a graph depicting the binding by monoclonal phages expressingscFv, referred to herein as “1A1, 1A6, 1B12, 1C7, 1C10, 1C12, 1D10,1E11, 1G12, 15C1”, to the cynomolgus monkey TLR4. Specificity of bindingis shown by flow cytometry using CHO cells mock transfected ortransfected with cynomolgus monkey TLR4. The results usingmock-transfected cells are shown with grey symbols (key on right), whilethe results using cynomolgus monkey TLR4 transfected cells are shown inother colored symbols (key on left).

FIG. 2 is a graph depicting the binding by monoclonal phages expressingscFvs, referred to herein as “1A1, 1A6, 1B12, 1C7, 1C10, 1C12, 1D10,1E11, 1G12, 15C1”, to the human TLR4/MD2 complex. Specificity of bindingis shown by flow cytometry using CHO cells mock transfected ortransfected with human TLR4/MD2. The results using mock-transfectedcells are shown with grey symbols (key on right), while the resultsusing human TLR4/MD2 transfected cells are shown in other coloredsymbols (key on left).

FIG. 3 is a graph depicting the binding by purified antibodies, referredto herein as “1 A1, 1A6, 1B12, 1C7, 1C10, 1C12, 1D10, 1E11, 1G12, 15C1”,to the cynomolgus monkey TLR4. Specificity of binding is shown by flowcytometry using CHO cells mock transfected or transfected withcynomolgus monkey TLR4/MD2. The results using mock-transfected cells areshown with grey symbols (key on right), while the results usingcynomolgus monkey TLR4/MD2 transfected cells are shown in other coloredsymbols (key on left).

FIG. 4 is a graph depicting the binding by purified antibodies, referredto herein as “1A1, 1A6, 1B12, 1C7, 1C10, 1C12, 1D10, 1E11, 1G12, 15C1”,to the human TLR4/MD2 complex. Specificity of binding is shown by flowcytometry CHO cells mock transfected or transfected with human TLR4/MD2.The results using mock-transfected cells are shown with grey symbols(key on right), while the results using human TLR4/MD2 transfected cellsare shown in other colored symbols (key on left).

FIG. 5 an illustration of the antibody paratope/TLR4 epitope potentialamino acid contact. The CDRH3 sequence of the human specific TLR4antibody, 15C1, (SEQ ID NO: 44) can make salt bridge interaction withlysine 349 of human TLR4 (SEQ ID NO: 23). CDRH3 sequence ofcynomolgus-monkey specific TLR4 1G12 MAb (SEQ ID NO: 36) can make saltbridge interaction with glutamic acid 349 of cynomolgus monkey TLR4 (SEQID NO: 24). CDRH3 sequence of cynomolgus-monkey/human specific TLR4 1E11MAb can make hydrogen bonds with both lysine 349 of human TLR4 (SEQ IDNO: 23) and glutamic acid 349 of cynomolgus monkey TLR4 (SEQ ID NO: 24).

FIG. 6 is a graph depicting the binding by purified antibodies, referredto herein as “1E11, 1E11 N103D”, to the cynomolgus monkey TLR4.Specificity of binding is shown by flow cytometry using CHO cells mocktransfected or transfected with cynomolgus monkey TLR4/MD2. The resultsusing mock-transfected cells are shown with grey symbols, while theresults using cynomolgus monkey TLR4/MD2 transfected cells are shown inother colored symbols.

FIG. 7 is a graph depicting the binding by purified antibodies, referredto herein “1E11, 1E11 N103D”, to the human TLR4/MD2 complex. Specificityof binding is shown by flow cytometry using CHO cells mock transfectedor transfected with human TLR4. The results using mock-transfected cellsare shown with grey symbols, while the results using human TLR4/MD2transfected cells are shown in other colored symbols.

FIG. 8 is a graph depicting the inhibition of LPS-induced downstreamsignaling cascade of TLR4, NF-κB, by purified antibodies, referred toherein “1E11, 15C1, 1C12, 1G12”. THP1-blue-CD14 cell line is derivedfrom human monocytic cell line expressing the human TLR4/MD2 complex andstably transfected with a reporter gene which facilitates the monitoringof TLR-induced NF-κB/AP-1 activation. Cells were incubated with 1E11,15C1, 1C12 and 1G12 at the indicated concentrations and subsequentlyincubated with LPS (10 ng/mL). Levels of secreted embryonic alkalinephosphatase were assessed 24 hours post LPS-treatment by measuring theabsorbance at 650 nm using a microplate reader.

FIG. 9 is a graph depicting the binding potency of purified antibodieswith CDRH1 mutations, referred to herein “15C1, 1E11.C2, 1E11.C3,1E11.C4, 1E11.C5, 1E11.C6”, to the human TLR4/MD2 complex. Bindingpotency is determined by competitive ELISA. The results obtained withparental antibody 15C1 are shown with circle symbols, while the resultsusing 1E11.C2, 1E11.C3, 1E11.C4, 1E11.C5 and 1E11.C6 antibodies areshown in other colored and shaped symbols.

FIG. 10 is a graph depicting the binding potency of purified antibodieswith CDRH1 mutations, referred to herein “15C1, 1E11.E1, 1E11.E3,1E11.E4, 1E11.E5”, to the human TLR4/MD2 complex. Binding potency isdetermined by competitive ELISA. The results obtained with parentalantibody 15C1 are shown with circle symbols, while the results using1E11.E1, 1E11.E3, 1E11.E4 and 1E11.E5 antibodies are shown in othercolored and shaped symbols.

FIG. 11 is a graph depicting the binding potency of purified antibodieswith CDRH1 mutations, referred to herein “15C1, 1E11.C2E1, 1E11.C2E3,1E11.C2E4, 1E11.C2E5”, to the human TLR4/MD2 complex. Binding potency isdetermined by competitive ELISA. The results obtained with parentalantibody 15C1 are shown with circle symbols, while the results using1E11.C2E1, 1E11.C2E3, 1E11.C2E4 and 1E11.C2E5 antibodies are shown inother colored and shaped symbols.

FIG. 12 is a graph depicting the binding by purified Fab, referred toherein as “Fab 15C1, Fab 1E11, Fab 1E11.C2, Fab 1E11.E3 and Fab1E11.C2E3”, to the cynomolgus monkey TLR4/MD2 complex. Specificity ofbinding is shown by flow cytometry CHO cells mock transfected ortransfected with the cynomolgus monkey TLR4/MD2. The results usingmock-transfected cells are shown with grey symbols (key on right), whilethe results using the cynomolgus monkey TLR4/MD2 transfected cells areshown in other colored symbols (key on left).

FIG. 13 is a graph depicting the inhibition of LPS-induced downstreamsignaling cascade of TLR4, NF-κB, by purified antibodies, referred toherein “15C1, 1E11.E2”. THP1-blue-CD14 cell line is derived from humanmonocytic cell line expressing the human TLR4/MD2 complex and stablytransfected with a reporter gene which facilitates the monitoring ofTLR-induced NF-κB/AP-1 activation. Cells were incubated with 15C1 and1E11.E2 at the indicated concentrations and subsequently incubated withLPS (10 ng/mL). Levels of secreted embryonic alkaline phosphatase wereassessed 24 hours post LPS-treatment by measuring the absorbance at 650nm using a microplate reader.

FIG. 14 is a graph depicting the inhibition of IL-6 production inducedby TLR4 activation in human whole blood assay by purified antibodies,referred to herein “15C1, 1E11C2, 1E11.C2E3”. Human blood was dilutedwith decreased concentration of antibodies and subsequently incubatedwith LPS. Levels of IL-6 were assessed 24 hours post LPS-treatment usingMilliplex kit. The results are represented as percentage of IL-6inhibition. The data obtained with parental antibody 15C1 are shown withorange symbols, while the results using 1E11.C2 and 1E11.C2E3 antibodiesare shown in other colored symbols.

FIG. 15 is a series of graphs depicting the inhibition of IL-6production induced by TLR4 activation in cynomolgus monkey whole bloodassay by purified antibodies, referred to herein “15C1, 1E11C2”. Thisexperiment was conducted with blood of 2 different animals. Cynomolgusmonkey blood was diluted with decreased concentration of antibodies andsubsequently incubated with LPS. Levels of IL-6 were assessed 24 hourspost LPS-treatment using Milliplex kit. The results obtained withparental antibody 15C1 are shown with circle symbols, while the resultsusing 1E11.C2 antibody are shown in square symbols.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) thatspecifically bind the human and/or cynomolgus monkey TLR4/MD-2 receptorcomplex. This receptor complex is activated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS),the major component of the outer membrane of gram-negative bacteria. Itis also activated by additional ligands, including by way ofnon-limiting example, Respiratory Syncytial Virus Fusion protein, OxPL,Ox-LDL, Amyloid-P-Defensin 2, Nickel, HMGB1, HSP, S100A8/S100A9,Tenascin C, Fibronectin-EDA, Biglycan and Hyaluronan. The monoclonalantibodies of the invention inhibit receptor activation and subsequentintracellular signaling via LPS. Thus, the monoclonal antibodiesneutralize the activation of the TLR4/MD-2 receptor complex. Inparticular, the invention provides monoclonal antibodies that recognizethe TLR4/MD-2 receptor complex expressed on the cell surface. Inaddition, the monoclonal antibodies of the invention also recognizehuman and cynomolgus monkey TLR4 when not complexed with MD-2. Themonoclonal antibody is, e.g., a humanized antibody.

Antibodies of the invention specifically bind human and/or cynomolgusmonkey TLR4/MD-2 complex, wherein the antibody binds to an epitope thatincludes one or more amino acid residues on human TLR4 and/or cynomolgusTLR4 between residues 289 and 375 of SEQ ID NO: 23 (human) and SEQ IDNO: 24 (cynomolgus).

Exemplary antibodies of the invention include, 1A1, 1A6, 1B12, 1C7,1C10, 1C12, 1D10, 1E11, 1E11 N103D, 1G12, 1E11.C1, 1E11.C2, 1E11.C3,1E11.C4, 1E11.C5, 1E11.C6, 1E11.E1, 1E11.E2, 1E11.E3, 1E11.E4, 1E11.E5,1E11.C2E1, 1E11.C2E2, 1E11.C2E3, 1E11.C2E4 and 1E11.C2E5. Someantibodies show specificity for both the human and cynomolgus monkeyTLR4/MD-2 receptor complex, and they have been shown to inhibit receptoractivation and subsequent intracellular signaling via LPS. For example,1C12, 1E11, 1E11 N103D, 1E11.C1, 1E11.C2, 1E11.C3, 1E11.C4, 1E11.C5,1E11.C6, 1E11.C2E1, 1E11.C2E2, 1E11.C2E3, 1E11.C2E4 and 1E11.C2E5 bindboth human and cynomolgus monkey TLR4 independently of the presence ofhuman or cynomolgus monkey MD-2. Exemplary antibodies 1A1, 1A6, 1B12,1C7, 1C10, 1D10 and 1G12 only bind to cynomolgus monkey TLR4independently of the presence of cynomolgus monkey MD-2. 1E11.E1,1E11.E2, 1E11.E3, 1E11.E4 and 1E11.E5 bind only to human TLR4independently of the presence of human MD-2.

TLRs recognize microbial particles and activate immune cells against thesource of these microbial particles. (See Takeda et al., Annu. Rev.Immunol., 21: 335-76 (2003), hereby incorporated by reference in itsentirety). TLR4 and MD-2 have been shown to form a complex on the cellsurface, and the presence of MD-2 appears essential for theresponsiveness of TLR4 to various ligands, including by way ofnon-limiting example, LPS, Respiratory Syncytial Virus Fusion protein,OxPL, Ox-LDL, 3-Defensin 2, Nickel, HMGB1, HSP, S100A8/S100A9, TenascinC, Fibronectin-EDA, Biglycan and Hyaluronan.

LPS delivers signals to immune cells via its multi-chain receptor inwhich the TLR4/MD-2 complex is the principle signaling component. LPShas been shown to exert its effects on the immune system via signalingthrough TLR4. LPS rapidly binds to the lipopolysaccharide-bindingprotein (LBP) in the bloodstream, and in this form, LPS interacts withthe GPI-anchored cell surface protein CD14. LPS is then transferred toTLR4 which transduces an intracellular activation signal. Recently,another protein, MD-2, was found to be necessary for signal transductionvia TLR4 to occur. MD-2 interacts directly with TLR4 and plays animportant role in its post-translational modification and intracellulartrafficking. In addition, MD-2 has been shown to directly bind LPS,which demonstrates the importance of this accessory protein in the LPSreceptor complex (See Miyake K., Int. Immunopharmacol. 3:119-128 (2003),hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety). Accordingly,neutralization of LPS signaling mediated by the TLR4/MD-2 complex is apotential therapeutic strategy in the treatment of disorders such as,for example, acute systemic inflammation and sepsis induced bygram-negative bacterial infection.

TLR4 antibodies of the invention include, for example, the heavy chaincomplementarity determining regions (CDRs) shown below in Table 1A, thelight chain CDRs shown in Table 1B, and combinations thereof.

TABLE 1VH CDR sequences from antibody clones that bind and neutralize TLR4Clone ID Heavy CDR1 Heavy CDR2 Heavy CDR3 1A1 GYSIT . . . GGYSIHYS . . . GYT ARKDSGRLLPY (SEQ ID NO: 25) (SEQ ID NO: 26)(SEQ ID NO: 28) 1A6 GYSIT . . . GGYS IHYS . . . GYT ARKDSGKWLPY(SEQ ID NO: 25) (SEQ ID NO: 26) (SEQ ID NO: 29) 1B12 GYSIT . . . GGYSIHYS . . . GYT ARKDSGHLMPY (SEQ ID NO: 25) (SEQ ID NO: 26)(SEQ ID NO: 30) 1C7 GYSIT . . . GGYS IHYS . . . GYT ARKDSGHNYPY(SEQ ID NO: 25) (SEQ ID NO: 26) (SEQ ID NO: 31) 1C10 GYSIT . . . GGYSIHYS . . . GYT ARKDSGKNFPY (SEQ ID NO: 25) (SEQ ID NO: 26)(SEQ ID NO: 32) 1C12 GYSIT . . . GGYS IHYS . . . GYT ARKDSGQLFPY(SEQ ID NO: 25) (SEQ ID NO: 26) (SEQ ID NO: 33) 1010 GYSIT. . . GGYSIHYS. . . GYT ARKDSGHNLPY (SEQ ID NO: 25) (SEQ ID NO: 26)(SEQ ID NO: 34) 1E11 GYSIT. . . GGYS IHYS. . . GYT ARKDSGNYFPY(SEQ ID NO: 25) (SEQ ID NO: 26) (SEQ ID NO: 27) 1E11 N103DGYSIT. . . GGYS IHYS. . . GYT ARKDSGDYFPY (SEQ ID NO: 25)(SEQ ID NO: 26) (SEQ ID NO: 35) 1G12 GYSIT. . . GGYS IHYS. . . GYTARKDSGRYWPY (SEQ ID NO: 25) (SEQ ID NO: 26) (SEQ ID NO: 36) 1E110C1GFPIR. . . YGYS IHYS. . . GYT ARKDSGNYFPY (SEQ ID NO: 55)(SEQ ID NO: 26) (SEQ ID NO: 27) 1E110C2 GYPIR. . . FGYS IHYS. . . GYTARKDSGNYFPY (SEQ ID NO: 56) (SEQ ID NO: 26) (SEQ ID NO: 27) 1E110C3GYPIR. . . HGYS IHYS. . . GYT ARKDSGNYFPY (SEQ ID NO: 57)(SEQ ID NO: 26) (SEQ ID NO: 27) 1E110C4 GFPIG. . . QGYS IHYS. . . GYTARKDSGNYFPY (SEQ ID NO: 58) (SEQ ID NO: 26) (SEQ ID NO: 27) 1E110C5GYPIW . . . GGYS IHYS. . . GYT ARKDSGNYFPY (SEQ ID NO: 59)(SEQ ID NO: 26) (SEQ ID NO: 27) 1E110C6 GYPIG. . . GGYS IHYS. . . GYTARKDSGNYFPY (SEQ ID NO: 60) (SEQ ID NO: 26) (SEQ ID NO: 27) 1E110E1GYSIT. . . GGYS IHYS. . . GYT ARKDSGNYFPY (SEQ ID NO: 25)(SEQ ID NO: 26) (SEQ ID NO: 27) 1E110E2 GYSIT. . . GGYS IHYS. . . GYTARKDSGNYFPY (SEQ ID NO: 25) (SEQ ID NO: 26) (SEQ ID NO: 27) 1E110E3GYSIT. . . GGYS IHYS. . . GYT ARKDSGNYFPY (SEQ ID NO: 25)(SEQ ID NO: 26) (SEQ ID NO: 27) 1E110E4 GYSIT. . . GGYS IHYS. . . GYTARKDSGNYFPY (SEQ ID NO: 25) (SEQ ID NO: 26) (SEQ ID NO: 27) 1E110E5GYSIT. . . GGYS IHYS. . . GYT ARKDSGNYFPY (SEQ ID NO: 25)(SEQ ID NO: 26) (SEQ ID NO: 27) 1E110C2E1 GYPIR. . . FGYS IHYS. . . GYTARKDSGNYFPY (SEQ ID NO: 56) (SEQ ID NO: 26) (SEQ ID NO: 27) 1E110C2E3GYPIR. . . FGYS IHYS. . . GYT ARKDSGNYFPY (SEQ ID NO: 56)(SEQ ID NO: 26) (SEQ ID NO: 27) 1E110C2E4 GYPIR. . . FGYS IHYS. . . GYTARKDSGNYFPY (SEQ ID NO: 56) (SEQ ID NO: 26) (SEQ ID NO: 27) 1E110C2E5GYPIR. . . FGYS IHYS. . . GYT ARKDSGNYFPY (SEQ ID NO: 56)(SEQ ID NO: 26) (SEQ ID NO: 27)

TABLE 1BVL CDR sequences from antibody clones that bind and neutralize TLR4Clone ID Light CDR1 Light CDR2 Light CDR3 1A1 QSI . . . SDH YA . . . . SQQGHSFPLT (SEQ ID NO: 37) (SEQ ID NO: 38) (SEQ ID NO: 39) 1A6QSI . . . SDH YA . . . . S QQGHSFPLT (SEQ ID NO: 37) (SEQ ID NO: 38)(SEQ ID NO: 39) 1812 QSI . . . SDH YA . . . . S QQGHSFPLT(SEQ ID NO: 37) (SEQ ID NO: 38) (SEQ ID NO: 39) 1C7 QSI . . . SDHYA . . . . S QQGHSFPLT (SEQ ID NO: 37) (SEQ ID NO: 38) (SEQ ID NO: 39)1C10 QSI . . . SDH YA . . . . S QQGHSFPLT (SEQ ID NO: 37)(SEQ ID NO: 38) (SEQ ID NO: 39) 1C12 QSI . . . SDH YA . . . . SQQGHSFPLT (SEQ ID NO: 37) (SEQ ID NO: 38) (SEQ ID NO: 39) 1010QSI . . . SDH YA . . . . S QQGHSFPLT (SEQ ID NO: 37) (SEQ ID NO: 38)(SEQ ID NO: 39) 1E11 QSI . . . SDH YA . . . . S QQGHSFPLT(SEQ ID NO: 37) (SEQ ID NO: 38) (SEQ ID NO: 39) 1E11 N103D QSI . . . SDHYA . . . . S QQGHSFPLT (SEQ ID NO: 37) (SEQ ID NO: 38) (SEQ ID NO: 39)1G12 QSI . . . SDH YA . . . . S QQGHSFPLT (SEQ ID NO: 37)(SEQ ID NO: 38) (SEQ ID NO: 39) 1E110C1 QSI . . . SDH YA . . . . SQQGHSFPLT (SEQ ID NO: 37) (SEQ ID NO: 38) (SEQ ID NO: 39) 1E110C2QSI . . . SDH YA . . . . S QQGHSFPLT (SEQ ID NO: 37) (SEQ ID NO: 38)(SEQ ID NO: 39) 1E110C3 QSI . . . SDH YA . . . . S QQGHSFPLT(SEQ ID NO: 37) (SEQ ID NO: 38) (SEQ ID NO: 39) 1E110C4 QSI . . . SDHYA . . . . S QQGHSFPLT (SEQ ID NO: 37) (SEQ ID NO: 38) (SEQ ID NO: 39)1E110C5 QSI . . . SDH YA . . . . S QQGHSFPLT (SEQ ID NO: 37)(SEQ ID NO: 38) (SEQ ID NO: 39) 1E110C6 QSI . . . SDH YA . . . . SQQGHSFPLT (SEQ ID NO: 37) (SEQ ID NO: 38) (SEQ ID NO: 39) 1E110E1QSI . . . SDH YA . . . . S QQGHSFPVT (SEQ ID NO: 37) (SEQ ID NO: 38)(SEQ ID NO: 61) 1E110E2 QSI . . . SDH YA . . . . S QQGYDEPFT(SEQ ID NO: 37) (SEQ ID NO: 38) (SEQ ID NO: 62) 1E110E3 QSI . . . SDHYA . . . . S QQGYDFPLT (SEQ ID NO: 37) (SEQ ID NO: 38) (SEQ ID NO: 63)1E110E4 QSI . . . SDH YA . . . . S QQGYDYPLT (SEQ ID NO: 37)(SEQ ID NO: 38) (SEQ ID NO: 64) 1E110E5 QSI . . . SDH YA . . . . SQQGYEFPLT (SEQ ID NO: 37) (SEQ ID NO: 38) (SEQ ID NO: 65) 1E110C2E1QSI . . . SDH YA . . . . S QQGNDFPVT (SEQ ID NO: 37) (SEQ ID NO: 38)(SEQ ID NO: 61) 1E110C2E3 QSI . . . SDH YA . . . . S QQGYDFPLT(SEQ ID NO: 37) (SEQ ID NO: 38) (SEQ ID NO: 63) 1E110C2E4 QSI . . . SDHYA . . . . S QQGYDYPLT (SEQ ID NO: 37) (SEQ ID NO: 38) (SEQ ID NO: 64)1E110C2E5 QSI . . . SDH YA . . . . S QQGYEFPLT (SEQ ID NO: 37)(SEQ ID NO: 38) (SEQ ID NO: 65)

TLR4 antibodies of the invention include, for example, antibodies havingthe combination of heavy chain and light chain sequences shown below inTable 20

TABLE 2 VH and VL sequences from antibody clones that bind andneutralize TLR4 Clone ID Variable heavy chain Variable light chain 1A1SEQ ID NO: 6 SEQ ID NO: 4 1A6 SEQ ID NO: 8 SEQ ID NO: 4 1B12 SEQ ID NO:10 SEQ ID NO: 4 1C7 SEQ ID NO: 12 SEQ ID NO: 4 1C10 SEQ ID NO: 14 SEQ IDNO: 4 1C12 SEQ ID NO: 16 SEQ ID NO: 4 1D10 SEQ ID NO: 18 SEQ ID NO: 41E11 SEQ ID NO: 2 SEQ ID NO: 4 1E11 N103D SEQ ID NO: 20 SEQ ID NO: 41G12 SEQ ID NO: 22 SEQ ID NO: 4 1E11.C1 SEQ ID NO: 67 SEQ ID NO: 41E11.C2 SEQ ID NO: 69 SEQ ID NO: 4 1E11.C3 SEQ ID NO: 71 SEQ ID NO: 41E11.C4 SEQ ID NO: 73 SEQ ID NO: 4 1E11.C5 SEQ ID NO: 75 SEQ ID NO: 41E11.C6 SEQ ID NO: 77 SEQ ID NO: 4 1E11.E1 SEQ ID NO: 2 SEQ ID NO: 791E11.E2 SEQ ID NO: 2 SEQ ID NO: 81 1E11.E3 SEQ ID NO: 2 SEQ ID NO: 831E11.E4 SEQ ID NO: 2 SEQ ID NO: 85 1E11.E5 SEQ ID NO: 2 SEQ ID NO: 871E11.C2E1 SEQ ID NO: 89 SEQ ID NO: 91 1E11.C2E3 SEQ ID NO: 93 SEQ ID NO:95 1E11.C2E4 SEQ ID NO: 97 SEQ ID NO: 99 1E11.C2E5 SEQ ID NO: 101 SEQ IDNO: 103

An exemplary TLR4 monoclonal antibody is the 1E11 antibody describedherein. As shown below, the 1E11 antibody includes a heavy chainvariable region (SEQ ID NO: 2) encoded by the nucleic acid sequenceshown in SEQ ID NO: 1, and a light chain variable region (SEQ ID NO: 4)encoded by the nucleic acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:3.

>1E11 VH nucleic acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 1)CAGGTGCAGCTTCAGGAGTCCGGCCCAGGACTGGT GAAGCCTTCGGACACCCTGTCCCTCACCTGCGCTGTCTCTGGTTACTCCATCACCGGTGGTTATAGCTGG CACTGGATACGGCAGCCCCCAGGGAAGGGACTGGAGTGGATGGGGTATATCCACTACAGTGGTTACACTG ACTTCAACCCCTCCCTCAAGACTCGAATCACCATATCACGTGACACGTCCAAGAACCAGTTCTCCCTGAA GCTGAGCTCTGTGACCGCTGTGGACACTGCAGTGTATTACTGTGCGAGAAAAGATTCGGGCAACTACTTC CCTTACTGGGGCCAAGGGACTCTGGTCACTGTCTCTTCC >1E11 VH amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 2)QVQLQESGPGLVKPSDTLSLTCAVSGYSITGGYSW HWIRQPPGKGLEWMGYIHYSGYTDFNPSLKTRITISRDTSKNQFSLKLSSVTAVDTAVYYCARKDSGNYFPYWGQGTLVTVSS >1E11 VL nucleic acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 3)GAAATTGTGTTGACGCAGTCTCCAGACTTTCAGTC TGTGACTCCAAAGGAAAAAGTCACCATCACCTGCAGGGCCAGTCAGAGTATCAGCGACCACTTACACTGG TACCAACAGAAACCTGATCAGTCTCCCAAGCTCCTCATCAAATATGCTTCCCATGCCATTTCTGGGGTCC CATCGAGGTTCAGTGGCAGTGGGTCTGGGACAGACTTCACTCTCACCATCAATAGCCTAGAGGCTGAAGA TGCTGCAACGTATTACTGTCAGCAGGGTCACAGTTTTCCGCTCACTTTCGGCGGAGGGACCAAGGTGGAG ATCAAA >1E11 VL amino acid sequence(SEQ ID NO: 4) EIVLTQSPDFQSVTPKEKVTITCRASQSISDHLHWYQQKPDQSPKLLIKYASHAISGVPSRFSGSGSGTD FTLTINSLEAEDAATYYCQQGHSFPLTFGGGTKVEIK

The amino acids encompassing the complementarity determining regions(CDR) are as defined by M. P. Lefranc (See Lefranc, M.-P., CurrentProtocols in Immunology, J. Wiley and Sons, New York supplement 40,A1.P.1-A.1P.37 (2000) LIGM:230). The heavy chain CDRs of the 1E11antibody have the following sequences: GYSITGGYS (SEQ ID NO: 25);IHYSGYT (SEQ ID NO: 26); and ARKDSGNYFPY (SEQ ID NO: 27). The lightchain CDRs of the 1E11 antibody have the following sequences: QSISDH(SEQ ID NO: 37); YAS (SEQ ID NO: 38); and QQGHSFPLT (SEQ ID NO: 39).

An exemplary TLR4 monoclonal antibody is the 1A1 antibody describedherein. As shown below, the 1A1 antibody includes a heavy chain variableregion (SEQ ID NO: 6) encoded by the nucleic acid sequence shown in SEQID NO: 5, and a light chain variable region (SEQ ID NO: 4) encoded bythe nucleic acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 3.

>1A1 VH nucleic acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 5)CAGGTGCAGCTTCAGGAGTCCGGCCCAGGACTGGT GAAGCCTTCGGACACCCTGTCCCTCACCTGCGCTGTCTCTGGTTACTCCATCACCGGTGGTTATAGCTGG CACTGGATACGGCAGCCCCCAGGGAAGGGACTGGAGTGGATGGGGTATATCCACTACAGTGGTTACACTG ACTTCAACCCCTCCCTCAAGACTCGAATCACCATATCACGTGACACGTCCAAGAACCAGTTCTCCCTGAA GCTGAGCTCTGTGACCGCTGTGGACACTGCAGTGTATTACTGTGCGAGAAAAGATTCCGGCCGCCTCCTC CCTTACTGGGGCCAAGGGACTCTGGTCACTGTCTCTTCC >1A1 VH amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 6)QVQLQESGPGLVKPSDTLSLTCAVSGYSITGGYSW HWIRQPPGKGLEWMGYIHYSGYTDFNPSLKTRITISRDTSKNQFSLKLSSVTAVDTAVYYCARKDSGRLLPYWGQGTLVTVSS >1A1 VL nucleic acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 3)GAAATTGTGTTGACGCAGTCTCCAGACTTTCAGTC TGTGACTCCAAAGGAAAAAGTCACCATCACCTGCAGGGCCAGTCAGAGTATCAGCGACCACTTACACTGG TACCAACAGAAACCTGATCAGTCTCCCAAGCTCCTCATCAAATATGCTTCCCATGCCATTTCTGGGGTCC CATCGAGGTTCAGTGGCAGTGGGTCTGGGACAGACTTCACTCTCACCATCAATAGCCTAGAGGCTGAAGA TGCTGCAACGTATTACTGTCAGCAGGGTCACAGTTTTCCGCTCACTTTCGGCGGAGGGACCAAGGTGGAG ATCAAA >1A1 VL amino acid sequence(SEQ ID NO: 4) EIVLTQSPDFQSVTPKEKVTITCRASQSISDHLHWYQQKPDQSPKLLIKYASHAISGVPSRFSGSGSGTD FTLTINSLEAEDAATYYCQQGHSFPLTFGGGTKVEIK

The amino acids encompassing the complementarity determining regions(CDR) are as defined by M. P. Lefranc (See Lefranc, M.-P., CurrentProtocols in Immunology, J. Wiley and Sons, New York supplement 40,A1.P.1-A.1P.37 (2000) LIGM:230). The heavy chain CDRs of the 1A1antibody have the following sequences: GYSITGGYS (SEQ ID NO: 25);IHYSGYT (SEQ ID NO: 26); and ARKDSGRLLPY (SEQ ID NO: 28). The lightchain CDRs of the 1A1 antibody have the following sequences: QSISDH (SEQID NO: 37); YAS (SEQ ID NO: 38); and QQGHSFPLT (SEQ ID NO: 39).

An exemplary TLR4 monoclonal antibody is the 1A6 antibody describedherein. As shown below, the 1A6 antibody includes a heavy chain variableregion (SEQ ID NO: 8) encoded by the nucleic acid sequence shown in SEQID NO: 7, and a light chain variable region (SEQ ID NO: 4) encoded bythe nucleic acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 3.

>1A6 VH nucleic acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 7)CAGGTGCAGCTTCAGGAGTCCGGCCCAGGACTGGT GAAGCCTTCGGACACCCTGTCCCTCACCTGCGCTGTCTCTGGTTACTCCATCACCGGTGGTTATAGCTGG CACTGGATACGGCAGCCCCCAGGGAAGGGACTGGAGTGGATGGGGTATATCCACTACAGTGGTTACACTG ACTTCAACCCCTCCCTCAAGACTCGAATCACCATATCACGTGACACGTCCAAGAACCAGTTCTCCCTGAA GCTGAGCTCTGTGACCGCTGTGGACACTGCAGTGTATTACTGTGCGAGAAAAGATAGCGGCAAGTGGTTG CCTTACTGGGGCCAAGGGACTCTGGTCACTGTCTCTTCC >1A6 VH amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 8)QVQLQESGPGLVKPSDTLSLTCAVSGYSITGGYSW HWIRQPPGKGLEWMGYIHYSGYTDFNPSLKTRITISRDTSKNQFSLKLSSVTAVDTAVYYCARKDSGKWLPYWGQGTLVTVSS >1A6 VL nucleic acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 3)GAAATTGTGTTGACGCAGTCTCCAGACTTTCAGTC TGTGACTCCAAAGGAAAAAGTCACCATCACCTGCAGGGCCAGTCAGAGTATCAGCGACCACTTACACTGG TACCAACAGAAACCTGATCAGTCTCCCAAGCTCCTCATCAAATATGCTTCCCATGCCATTTCTGGGGTCC CATCGAGGTTCAGTGGCAGTGGGTCTGGGACAGACTTCACTCTCACCATCAATAGCCTAGAGGCTGAAGA TGCTGCAACGTATTACTGTCAGCAGGGTCACAGTTTTCCGCTCACTTTCGGCGGAGGGACCAAGGTGGAG ATCAAA >1A6 VL amino acid sequence(SEQ ID NO: 4) EIVLTQSPDFQSVTPKEKVTITCRASQSISDHLHWYQQKPDQSPKLLIKYASHAISGVPSRFSGSGSGTD FTLTINSLEAEDAATYYCQQGHSFPLTFGGGTKVEIK

The amino acids encompassing the complementarity determining regions(CDR) are as defined by M. P. Lefranc (See Lefranc, M.-P., CurrentProtocols in Immunology, J. Wiley and Sons, New York supplement 40,A1.P.1-A.1P.37 (2000) LIGM:230). The heavy chain CDRs of the 1A6antibody have the following sequences: GYSITGGYS (SEQ ID NO: 25);IHYSGYT (SEQ ID NO: 26); and ARKDSGKWLPY (SEQ ID NO: 29). The lightchain CDRs of the 1A6 antibody have the following sequences: QSISDH (SEQID NO: 37); YAS (SEQ ID NO: 38); and QQGHSFPLT (SEQ ID NO: 39).

An exemplary TLR4 monoclonal antibody is the 1B12 antibody describedherein. As shown below, the 1B12 antibody includes a heavy chainvariable region (SEQ ID NO: 10) encoded by the nucleic acid sequenceshown in SEQ ID NO: 9, and a light chain variable region (SEQ ID NO: 4)encoded by the nucleic acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:3.

>1B12 VH nucleic acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 9)CAGGTGCAGCTTCAGGAGTCCGGCCCAGGACTGGT GAAGCCTTCGGACACCCTGTCCCTCACCTGCGCTGTCTCTGGTTACTCCATCACCGGTGGTTATAGCTGG CACTGGATACGGCAGCCCCCAGGGAAGGGACTGGAGTGGATGGGGTATATCCACTACAGTGGTTACACTG ACTTCAACCCCTCCCTCAAGACTCGAATCACCATATCACGTGACACGTCCAAGAACCAGTTCTCCCTGAA GCTGAGCTCTGTGACCGCTGTGGACACTGCAGTGTATTACTGTGCGAGAAAAGATAGCGGGCACCTCATG CCTTACTGGGGCCAAGGGACTCTGGTCACTGTCTCTTCC >1B12 VH amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 10)QVQLQESGPGLVKPSDTLSLTCAVSGYSITGGYSW HWIRQPPGKGLEWMGYIHYSGYTDFNPSLKTRITISRDTSKNQFSLKLSSVTAVDTAVYYCARKDSGHLMPYWGQGTLVTVSS >1B12 VL nucleic acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 3)GAAATTGTGTTGACGCAGTCTCCAGACTTTCAGTC TGTGACTCCAAAGGAAAAAGTCACCATCACCTGCAGGGCCAGTCAGAGTATCAGCGACCACTTACACTGG TACCAACAGAAACCTGATCAGTCTCCCAAGCTCCTCATCAAATATGCTTCCCATGCCATTTCTGGGGTCC CATCGAGGTTCAGTGGCAGTGGGTCTGGGACAGACTTCACTCTCACCATCAATAGCCTAGAGGCTGAAGA TGCTGCAACGTATTACTGTCAGCAGGGTCACAGTTTTCCGCTCACTTTCGGCGGAGGGACCAAGGTGGAG ATCAAA >1B12 VL amino acid sequence(SEQ ID NO: 4) EIVLTQSPDFQSVTPKEKVTITCRASQSISDHLHWYQQKPDQSPKLLIKYASHAISGVPSRFSGSGSGTD FTLTINSLEAEDAATYYCQQGHSFPLTFGGGTKVEIK

The amino acids encompassing the complementarity determining regions(CDR) are as defined by M. P. Lefranc (See Lefranc, M.-P., CurrentProtocols in Immunology, J. Wiley and Sons, New York supplement 40,A1.P.1-A.1P.37 (2000) LIGM:230). The heavy chain CDRs of the 1A6antibody have the following sequences: GYSITGGYS (SEQ ID NO: 25);IHYSGYT (SEQ ID NO: 26); and ARKDSGHLMPY (SEQ ID NO: 30). The lightchain CDRs of the 1B12 antibody have the following sequences: QSISDH(SEQ ID NO: 37); YAS (SEQ ID NO: 38); and QQGHSFPLT (SEQ ID NO: 39).

An exemplary TLR4 monoclonal antibody is the 1C7 antibody describedherein. As shown below, the 1C7 antibody includes a heavy chain variableregion (SEQ ID NO: 12) encoded by the nucleic acid sequence shown in SEQID NO: 11, and a light chain variable region (SEQ ID NO: 4) encoded bythe nucleic acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 3.

>1C7 VH nucleic acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 11)CAGGTGCAGCTTCAGGAGTCCGGCCCAGGACTGGT GAAGCCTTCGGACACCCTGTCCCTCACCTGCGCTGTCTCTGGTTACTCCATCACCGGTGGTTATAGCTGG CACTGGATACGGCAGCCCCCAGGGAAGGGACTGGAGTGGATGGGGTATATCCACTACAGTGGTTACACTG ACTTCAACCCCTCCCTCAAGACTCGAATCACCATATCACGTGACACGTCCAAGAACCAGTTCTCCCTGAA GCTGAGCTCTGTGACCGCTGTGGACACTGCAGTGTATTACTGTGCGAGAAAAGATTCCGGGCACAACTAC CCTTACTGGGGCCAAGGGACTCTGGTCACTGTCTCTTCC >1C7 VH amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 12)QVQLQESGPGLVKPSDTLSLTCAVSGYSITGGYSW HWIRQPPGKGLEWMGYIHYSGYTDFNPSLKTRITISRDTSKNQFSLKLSSVTAVDTAVYYCARKDSGHNYPYWGQGTLVTVSS >1C7 VL nucleic acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 3)GAAATTGTGTTGACGCAGTCTCCAGACTTTCAGTC TGTGACTCCAAAGGAAAAAGTCACCATCACCTGCAGGGCCAGTCAGAGTATCAGCGACCACTTACACTGG TACCAACAGAAACCTGATCAGTCTCCCAAGCTCCTCATCAAATATGCTTCCCATGCCATTTCTGGGGTCC CATCGAGGTTCAGTGGCAGTGGGTCTGGGACAGACTTCACTCTCACCATCAATAGCCTAGAGGCTGAAGA TGCTGCAACGTATTACTGTCAGCAGGGTCACAGTTTTCCGCTCACTTTCGGCGGAGGGACCAAGGTGGAG ATCAAA >1C7 VL amino acid sequence(SEQ ID NO: 4) EIVLTQSPDFQSVTPKEKVTITCRASQSISDHLHWYQQKPDQSPKLLIKYASHAISGVPSRFSGSGSGTD FTLTINSLEAEDAATYYCQQGHSFPLTFGGGTKVEIK

The amino acids encompassing the complementarity determining regions(CDR) are as defined by M. P. Lefranc (See Lefranc, M.-P., CurrentProtocols in Immunology, J. Wiley and Sons, New York supplement 40,A1.P.1-A.1P.37 (2000) LIGM:230). The heavy chain CDRs of the 1C7antibody have the following sequences: GYSITGGYS (SEQ ID NO: 25);IHYSGYT (SEQ ID NO: 26); and ARKDSGHNYPY (SEQ ID NO: 31). The lightchain CDRs of the 1C7 antibody have the following sequences: QSISDH (SEQID NO: 37); YAS (SEQ ID NO: 38); and QQGHSFPLT (SEQ ID NO: 39).

An exemplary TLR4 monoclonal antibody is the 1C10 antibody describedherein. As shown below, the 1C10 antibody includes a heavy chainvariable region (SEQ ID NO: 14) encoded by the nucleic acid sequenceshown in SEQ ID NO: 13, and a light chain variable region (SEQ ID NO: 4)encoded by the nucleic acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:3.

>1C10 VH nucleic acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 13)CAGGTGCAGCTTCAGGAGTCCGGCCCAGGACTGGT GAAGCCTTCGGACACCCTGTCCCTCACCTGCGCTGTCTCTGGTTACTCCATCACCGGTGGTTATAGCTGG CACTGGATACGGCAGCCCCCAGGGAAGGGACTGGAGTGGATGGGGTATATCCACTACAGTGGTTACACTG ACTTCAACCCCTCCCTCAAGACTCGAATCACCATATCACGTGACACGTCCAAGAACCAGTTCTCCCTGAA GCTGAGCTCTGTGACCGCTGTGGACACTGCAGTGTATTACTGTGCGAGAAAAGATAGCGGCAAGAACTTC CCTTACTGGGGCCAAGGGACTCTGGTCACTGTCTCTTCC >1C10 VH amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 14)QVQLQESGPGLVKPSDTLSLTCAVSGYSITGGYSW HWIRQPPGKGLEWMGYIHYSGYTDFNPSLKTRITISRDTSKNQFSLKLSSVTAVDTAVYYCARKDSGKNFPYWGQGTLVTVSS >1C10 VL nucleic acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 3)GAAATTGTGTTGACGCAGTCTCCAGACTTTCAGTC TGTGACTCCAAAGGAAAAAGTCACCATCACCTGCAGGGCCAGTCAGAGTATCAGCGACCACTTACACTGG TACCAACAGAAACCTGATCAGTCTCCCAAGCTCCTCATCAAATATGCTTCCCATGCCATTTCTGGGGTCC CATCGAGGTTCAGTGGCAGTGGGTCTGGGACAGACTTCACTCTCACCATCAATAGCCTAGAGGCTGAAGA TGCTGCAACGTATTACTGTCAGCAGGGTCACAGTTTTCCGCTCACTTTCGGCGGAGGGACCAAGGTGGAG ATCAAA >1C10 VL amino acid sequence(SEQ ID NO: 4) EIVLTQSPDFQSVTPKEKVTITCRASQSISDHLHWYQQKPDQSPKLLIKYASHAISGVPSRFSGSGSGTD FTLTINSLEAEDAATYYCQQGHSFPLTFGGGTKVEIK

The amino acids encompassing the complementarity determining regions(CDR) are as defined by M. P. Lefranc (See Lefranc, M.-P., CurrentProtocols in Immunology, J. Wiley and Sons, New York supplement 40,A1.P.1-A.1P.37 (2000) LIGM:230). The heavy chain CDRs of the 1C10antibody have the following sequences: GYSITGGYS (SEQ ID NO: 25);IHYSGYT (SEQ ID NO: 26); and ARKDSGKNFPY (SEQ ID NO: 32). The lightchain CDRs of the 1C10 antibody have the following sequences: QSISDH(SEQ ID NO: 37); YAS (SEQ ID NO: 38); and QQGHSFPLT (SEQ ID NO: 39).

An exemplary TLR4 monoclonal antibody is the 1C12 antibody describedherein. As shown below, the 1C12 antibody includes a heavy chainvariable region (SEQ ID NO: 16) encoded by the nucleic acid sequenceshown in SEQ ID NO: 15, and a light chain variable region (SEQ ID NO: 4)encoded by the nucleic acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:3.

>1C12 VH nucleic acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 15)CAGGTGCAGCTTCAGGAGTCCGGCCCAGGACTGGT GAAGCCTTCGGACACCCTGTCCCTCACCTGCGCTGTCTCTGGTTACTCCATCACCGGTGGTTATAGCTGG CACTGGATACGGCAGCCCCCAGGGAAGGGACTGGAGTGGATGGGGTATATCCACTACAGTGGTTACACTG ACTTCAACCCCTCCCTCAAGACTCGAATCACCATATCACGTGACACGTCCAAGAACCAGTTCTCCCTGAA GCTGAGCTCTGTGACCGCTGTGGACACTGCAGTGTATTACTGTGCGAGAAAAGATAGCGGCCAGTTGTTC CCTTACTGGGGCCAAGGGACTCTGGTCACTGTCTCTTCC >1C12 VH amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 16)QVQLQESGPGLVKPSDTLSLTCAVSGYSITGGYSW HWIRQPPGKGLEWMGYIHYSGYTDFNPSLKTRITISRDTSKNQFSLKLSSVTAVDTAVYYCARKDSGQLFPYWGQGTLVTVSS >1C12 VL nucleic acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 3)GAAATTGTGTTGACGCAGTCTCCAGACTTTCAGTC TGTGACTCCAAAGGAAAAAGTCACCATCACCTGCAGGGCCAGTCAGAGTATCAGCGACCACTTACACTGG TACCAACAGAAACCTGATCAGTCTCCCAAGCTCCTCATCAAATATGCTTCCCATGCCATTTCTGGGGTCC CATCGAGGTTCAGTGGCAGTGGGTCTGGGACAGACTTCACTCTCACCATCAATAGCCTAGAGGCTGAAGA TGCTGCAACGTATTACTGTCAGCAGGGTCACAGTTTTCCGCTCACTTTCGGCGGAGGGACCAAGGTGGAG ATCAAA >1C12 VL amino acid sequence(SEQ ID NO: 4) EIVLTQSPDFQSVTPKEKVTITCRASQSISDHLHWYQQKPDQSPKLLIKYASHAISGVPSRFSGSGSGTD FTLTINSLEAEDAATYYCQQGHSFPLTFGGGTKVEIK

The amino acids encompassing the complementarity determining regions(CDR) are as defined by M. P. Lefranc (See Lefranc, M.-P., CurrentProtocols in Immunology, J. Wiley and Sons, New York supplement 40,A1.P.1-A.1P.37 (2000) LIGM:230). The heavy chain CDRs of the 1C12antibody have the following sequences: GYSITGGYS (SEQ ID NO: 25);IHYSGYT (SEQ ID NO: 26); and ARKDSGQLFPY (SEQ ID NO: 33). The lightchain CDRs of the 1C12 antibody have the following sequences: QSISDH(SEQ ID NO: 37); YAS (SEQ ID NO: 38); and QQGHSFPLT (SEQ ID NO: 39).

An exemplary TLR4 monoclonal antibody is the 1D10 antibody describedherein. As shown below, the 1D10 antibody includes a heavy chainvariable region (SEQ ID NO: 18) encoded by the nucleic acid sequenceshown in SEQ ID NO: 17, and a light chain variable region (SEQ ID NO: 4)encoded by the nucleic acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:3.

>1D10 VH nucleic acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 17)CAGGTGCAGCTTCAGGAGTCCGGCCCAGGACTGGT GAAGCCTTCGGACACCCTGTCCCTCACCTGCGCTGTCTCTGGTTACTCCATCACCGGTGGTTATAGCTGG CACTGGATACGGCAGCCCCCAGGGAAGGGACTGGAGTGGATGGGGTATATCCACTACAGTGGTTACACTG ACTTCAACCCCTCCCTCAAGACTCGAATCACCATATCACGTGACACGTCCAAGAACCAGTTCTCCCTGAA GCTGAGCTCTGTGACCGCTGTGGACACTGCAGTGTATTACTGTGCGAGAAAAGATAGCGGCCACAACTTG CCTTACTGGGGCCAAGGGACTCTGGTCACTGTCTCTTCC >1D10 VH amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 18)QVQLQESGPGLVKPSDTLSLTCAVSGYSITGGYSW HWIRQPPGKGLEWMGYIHYSGYTDFNPSLKTRITISRDTSKNQFSLKLSSVTAVDTAVYYCARKDSGHNLPYWGQGTLVTVSS >1D10 VL nucleic acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 3)GAAATTGTGTTGACGCAGTCTCCAGACTTTCAGTC TGTGACTCCAAAGGAAAAAGTCACCATCACCTGCAGGGCCAGTCAGAGTATCAGCGACCACTTACACTGG TACCAACAGAAACCTGATCAGTCTCCCAAGCTCCTCATCAAATATGCTTCCCATGCCATTTCTGGGGTCC CATCGAGGTTCAGTGGCAGTGGGTCTGGGACAGACTTCACTCTCACCATCAATAGCCTAGAGGCTGAAGA TGCTGCAACGTATTACTGTCAGCAGGGTCACAGTTTTCCGCTCACTTTCGGCGGAGGGACCAAGGTGGAG ATCAAA >1D10 VL amino acid sequence(SEQ ID NO: 4) EIVLTQSPDFQSVTPKEKVTITCRASQSISDHLHWYQQKPDQSPKLLIKYASHAISGVPSRFSGSGSGTD FTLTINSLEAEDAATYYCQQGHSFPLTFGGGTKVEIK

The amino acids encompassing the complementarity determining regions(CDR) are as defined by M. P. Lefranc (See Lefranc, M.-P., CurrentProtocols in Immunology, J. Wiley and Sons, New York supplement 40,A1.P.1-A.1P.37 (2000) LIGM:230). The heavy chain CDRs of the 1D10antibody have the following sequences: GYSITGGYS (SEQ ID NO: 25);IHYSGYT (SEQ ID NO: 26); and ARKDSGHNLPY (SEQ ID NO: 34). The lightchain CDRs of the 1D10 antibody have the following sequences: QSISDH(SEQ ID NO: 37); YAS (SEQ ID NO: 38); and QQGHSFPLT (SEQ ID NO: 39).

An exemplary TLR4 monoclonal antibody is the 1E11 N103D antibodydescribed herein. As shown below, the 1E11 N103D antibody includes aheavy chain variable region (SEQ ID NO: 20) encoded by the nucleic acidsequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 19, and a light chain variable region (SEQID NO: 4) encoded by the nucleic acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 3.

>I E11 N103D VH nucleic acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 19)CAGGTGCAGCTTCAGGAGTCCGGCCCAGGACTGGT GAAGCCTTCGGACACCCTGTCCCTCACCTGCGCTGTCTCTGGTTACTCCATCACCGGTGGTTATAGCTGG CACTGGATACGGCAGCCCCCAGGGAAGGGACTGGAGTGGATGGGGTATATCCACTACAGTGGTTACACTG ACTTCAACCCCTCCCTCAAGACTCGAATCACCATATCACGTGACACGTCCAAGAACCAGTTCTCCCTGAA GCTGAGCTCTGTGACCGCTGTGGACACTGCAGTGTATTACTGTGCGAGAAAAGATTCGGGCGACTACTTC CCTTACTGGGGCCAAGGGACTCTGGTCACTGTCTCTTCC >1E11 N103D VH amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 20)QVQLQESGPGLVKPSDTLSLTCAVSGYSITGGYSW HWIRQPPGKGLEWMGYIHYSGYTDFNPSLKTRITISRDTSKNQFSLKLSSVTAVDTAVYYCARKDSGDYFPYWGQGTLVTVSS >I E11 N103D VL nucleic acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 3)GAAATTGTGTTGACGCAGTCTCCAGACTTTCAGTC TGTGACTCCAAAGGAAAAAGTCACCATCACCTGCAGGGCCAGTCAGAGTATCAGCGACCACTTACACTGG TACCAACAGAAACCTGATCAGTCTCCCAAGCTCCTCATCAAATATGCTTCCCATGCCATTTCTGGGGTCC CATCGAGGTTCAGTGGCAGTGGGTCTGGGACAGACTTCACTCTCACCATCAATAGCCTAGAGGCTGAAGA TGCTGCAACGTATTACTGTCAGCAGGGTCACAGTTTTCCGCTCACTTTCGGCGGAGGGACCAAGGTGGAGATCAAA >1E11 N103D VL amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 4)EIVLTQSPDFQSVTPKEKVTITCRASQSISDHLHW YQQKPDQSPKLLIKYASHAISGVPSRFSGSGSGTDFTLTINSLEAEDAATYYCQQGHSFPLTFGGGTKVE IK

The amino acids encompassing the complementarity determining regions(CDR) are as defined by M. P. Lefranc (See Lefranc, M.-P., CurrentProtocols in Immunology, J. Wiley and Sons, New York supplement 40,A1.P.1-A.1P.37 (2000) LIGM:230). The heavy chain CDRs of the 1E11 N103Dantibody have the following sequences: GYSITGGYS (SEQ ID NO: 25);IHYSGYT (SEQ ID NO: 26); and ARKDSGDYFPY (SEQ ID NO: 35). The lightchain CDRs of the 1E11 N103D antibody have the following sequences:QSISDH (SEQ ID NO: 37); YAS (SEQ ID NO: 38); and QQGHSFPLT (SEQ ID NO:39).

An exemplary TLR4 monoclonal antibody is the 1G12 antibody describedherein. As shown below, the 1G12 antibody includes a heavy chainvariable region (SEQ ID NO: 22) encoded by the nucleic acid sequenceshown in SEQ ID NO: 21, and a light chain variable region (SEQ ID NO: 4)encoded by the nucleic acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:3.

>1G12 VH nucleic acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 21)CAGGTGCAGCTTCAGGAGTCCGGCCCAGGACTGGT GAAGCCTTCGGACACCCTGTCCCTCACCTGCGCTGTCTCTGGTTACTCCATCACCGGTGGTTATAGCTGG CACTGGATACGGCAGCCCCCAGGGAAGGGACTGGAGTGGATGGGGTATATCCACTACAGTGGTTACACTG ACTTCAACCCCTCCCTCAAGACTCGAATCACCATATCACGTGACACGTCCAAGAACCAGTTCTCCCTGAA GCTGAGCTCTGTGACCGCTGTGGACACTGCAGTGTATTACTGTGCGAGAAAAGATTCCGGGCGGTACTGG CCTTACTGGGGCCAAGGGACTCTGGTCACTGTCTCTTCC >1G12 VH amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 22)QVQLQESGPGLVKPSDTLSLTCAVSGYSITGGYSW HWIRQPPGKGLEWMGYIHYSGYTDFNPSLKTRITISRDTSKNQFSLKLSSVTAVDTAVYYCARKDSGRYWPYWGQGTLVTVSS >1G12 VL nucleic acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 3)GAAATTGTGTTGACGCAGTCTCCAGACTTTCAGTC TGTGACTCCAAAGGAAAAAGTCACCATCACCTGCAGGGCCAGTCAGAGTATCAGCGACCACTTACACTGG TACCAACAGAAACCTGATCAGTCTCCCAAGCTCCTCATCAAATATGCTTCCCATGCCATTTCTGGGGTCC CATCGAGGTTCAGTGGCAGTGGGTCTGGGACAGACTTCACTCTCACCATCAATAGCCTAGAGGCTGAAGA TGCTGCAACGTATTACTGTCAGCAGGGTCACAGTTTTCCGCTCACTTTCGGCGGAGGGACCAAGGTGGAG ATCAAA >1G12 VL amino acid sequence(SEQ ID NO: 4) EIVLTQSPDFQSVTPKEKVTITCRASQSISDHLHWYQQKPDQSPKLLIKYASHAISGVPSRFSGSGSGTD FTLTINSLEAEDAATYYCQQGHSFPLTFGGGTKVEIK

The amino acids encompassing the complementarity determining regions(CDR) are as defined by M. P. Lefranc (See Lefranc, M.-P., CurrentProtocols in Immunology, J. Wiley and Sons, New York supplement 40,A1.P.1-A.1P.37 (2000) LIGM:230). The heavy chain CDRs of the 1G12antibody have the following sequences: GYSITGGYS (SEQ ID NO: 25);IHYSGYT (SEQ ID NO: 26); and ARKDSGRYWPY (SEQ ID NO: 36). The lightchain CDRs of the 1E11 N103D antibody have the following sequences:QSISDH (SEQ ID NO: 37); YAS (SEQ ID NO: 38); and QQGHSFPLT (SEQ ID NO:39).

An exemplary TLR4 monoclonal antibody is the 1E11.C1 antibody describedherein. As shown below, the 1E11.C1 antibody includes a heavy chainvariable region (SEQ ID NO: 67) encoded by the nucleic acid sequenceshown in SEQ ID NO: 66, and a light chain variable region (SEQ ID NO: 4)encoded by the nucleic acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:3.

>1E11.C1 VH nucleic acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 66)CAGGTGCAGCTTCAGGAGTCCGGCCCAGGACTGGT GAAGCCTTCGGACACCCTGTCCCTCACCTGCGCTGTCTCTGGTTTCCCGATCCGCTACGGGTATAGCTGG CACTGGATACGGCAGCCCCCAGGGAAGGGACTGGAGTGGATGGGGTATATCCACTACAGTGGTTACACTG ACTTCAACCCCTCCCTCAAGACTCGAATCACCATATCACGTGACACGTCCAAGAACCAGTTCTCCCTGAA GCTGAGCTCTGTGACCGCTGTGGACACTGCAGTGTATTACTGTGCGAGAAAAGATTCGGGCAACTACTTC CCTTACTGGGGCCAAGGGACTCTGGTCACTGTCTCTTCC >1E11.C1 VH amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 67)QVQLQESGPGLVKPSDTLSLTCAVSGFPIRYGYSW HWIRQPPGKGLEWMGYIHYSGYTDFNPSLKTRITISRDTSKNQFSLKLSSVTAVDTAVYYCARKDSGNYFPYWGQGTLVTVSS >1E11.C1 VL amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 3)GAAATTGTGTTGACGCAGTCTCCAGACTTTCAGTC TGTGACTCCAAAGGAAAAAGTCACCATCACCTGCAGGGCCAGTCAGAGTATCAGCGACCACTTACACTGG TACCAACAGAAACCTGATCAGTCTCCCAAGCTCCTCATCAAATATGCTTCCCATGCCATTTCTGGGGTCC CATCGAGGTTCAGTGGCAGTGGGTCTGGGACAGACTTCACTCTCACCATCAATAGCCTAGAGGCTGAAGA TGCTGCAACGTATTACTGTCAGCAGGGTCACAGTTTTCCGCTCACTTTCGGCGGAGGGACCAAGGTGGAGATCAAA >1E11.C1 VL amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 4)EIVLTQSPDFQSVTPKEKVTITCRASQSISDHLHW YQQKPDQSPKLLIKYASHAISGVPSRFSGSGSGTDFTLTINSLEAEDAATYYCQQGHSFPLTFGGGTKVE IK

The amino acids encompassing the complementarity determining regions(CDR) are as defined by M. P. Lefranc (See Lefranc, M.-P., CurrentProtocols in Immunology, J. Wiley and Sons, New York supplement 40,A1.P.1-A.1P.37 (2000) LIGM:230). The heavy chain CDRs of the 1E11.C1antibody have the following sequences: GFPIRYGYS (SEQ ID NO: 55);IHYSGYT (SEQ ID NO: 26); and ARKDSGNYFPY (SEQ ID NO: 27). The lightchain CDRs of the 1E11.C1 antibody have the following sequences: QSISDH(SEQ ID NO: 37); YAS (SEQ ID NO: 38); and QQGHSFPLT (SEQ ID NO: 39).

An exemplary TLR4 monoclonal antibody is the 1E11.C2 antibody describedherein. As shown below, the 1E11.C2 antibody includes a heavy chainvariable region (SEQ ID NO: 69) encoded by the nucleic acid sequenceshown in SEQ ID NO: 68, and a light chain variable region (SEQ ID NO: 4)encoded by the nucleic acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:3.

>1E11.C2 VH nucleic acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 68)CAGGTGCAGCTTCAGGAGTCCGGCCCAGGACTGGT GAAGCCTTCGGACACCCTGTCCCTCACCTGCGCTGTCTCTGGTTACCCGATCCGGTTCGGCTATAGCTGG CACTGGATACGGCAGCCCCCAGGGAAGGGACTGGAGTGGATGGGGTATATCCACTACAGTGGTTACACTG ACTTCAACCCCTCCCTCAAGACTCGAATCACCATATCACGTGACACGTCCAAGAACCAGTTCTCCCTGAA GCTGAGCTCTGTGACCGCTGTGGACACTGCAGTGTATTACTGTGCGAGAAAAGATTCGGGCAACTACTTC CCTTACTGGGGCCAAGGGACTCTGGTCACTGTCTCTTCC >1E11.C2 VH amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 69)QVQLQESGPGLVKPSDTLSLTCAVSGYPIRFGYSW HWIRQPPGKGLEWMGYIHYSGYTDFNPSLKTRITISRDTSKNQFSLKLSSVTAVDTAVYYCARKDSGNYFPYWGQGTLVTVSS >1E11.C2 VL nucleic acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 3)GAAATTGTGTTGACGCAGTCTCCAGACTTTCAGTC TGTGACTCCAAAGGAAAAAGTCACCATCACCTGCAGGGCCAGTCAGAGTATCAGCGACCACTTACACTGG TACCAACAGAAACCTGATCAGTCTCCCAAGCTCCTCATCAAATATGCTTCCCATGCCATTTCTGGGGTCC CATCGAGGTTCAGTGGCAGTGGGTCTGGGACAGACTTCACTCTCACCATCAATAGCCTAGAGGCTGAAGA TGCTGCAACGTATTACTGTCAGCAGGGTCACAGTTTTCCGCTCACTTTCGGCGGAGGGACCAAGGTGGAGATCAAA >1E11.C2 VL amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 4)EIVLTQSPDFQSVTPKEKVTITCRASQSISDHLHW YQQKPDQSPKLLIKYASHAISGVPSRFSGSGSGTDFTLTINSLEAEDAATYYCQQGHSFPLTFGGGTKVE IK

The amino acids encompassing the complementarity determining regions(CDR) are as defined by M. P. Lefranc (See Lefranc, M.-P., CurrentProtocols in Immunology, J. Wiley and Sons, New York supplement 40,A1.P.1-A.1P.37 (2000) LIGM:230). The heavy chain CDRs of the 1E11.C2antibody have the following sequences: GYPIRFGYS (SEQ ID NO: 56);IHYSGYT (SEQ ID NO: 26); and ARKDSGNYFPY (SEQ ID NO: 27). The lightchain CDRs of the 1E11.C1 antibody have the following sequences: QSISDH(SEQ ID NO: 37); YAS (SEQ ID NO: 38); and QQGHSFPLT (SEQ ID NO: 39).

An exemplary TLR4 monoclonal antibody is the 1E11.C3 antibody describedherein. As shown below, the 1E11.C3 antibody includes a heavy chainvariable region (SEQ ID NO: 71) encoded by the nucleic acid sequenceshown in SEQ ID NO: 70, and a light chain variable region (SEQ ID NO: 4)encoded by the nucleic acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:3.

>1E11.C3 VH nucleic acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 70)CAGGTGCAGCTTCAGGAGTCCGGCCCAGGACTGGT GAAGCCTTCGGACACCCTGTCCCTCACCTGCGCTGTCTCTGGTTACCCCATCCGGCACGGGTACAGCTGG CACTGGATACGGCAGCCCCCAGGGAAGGGACTGGAGTGGATGGGGTATATCCACTACAGTGGTTACACTG ACTTCAACCCCTCCCTCAAGACTCGAATCACCATATCACGTGACACGTCCAAGAACCAGTTCTCCCTGAA GCTGAGCTCTGTGACCGCTGTGGACACTGCAGTGTATTACTGTGCGAGAAAAGATTCGGGCAACTACTTC CCTTACTGGGGCCAAGGGACTCTGGTCACTGTCTCTTCC >1E11.C3 VH amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 71)QVQLQESGPGLVKPSDTLSLTCAVSGYPIRHGYSW HWIRQPPGKGLEWMGYIHYSGYTDFNPSLKTRITISRDTSKNQFSLKLSSVTAVDTAVYYCARKDSGNYFPYWGQGTLVTVSS >1E11.C3 VL nucleic acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 3)GAAATTGTGTTGACGCAGTCTCCAGACTTTCAGTC TGTGACTCCAAAGGAAAAAGTCACCATCACCTGCAGGGCCAGTCAGAGTATCAGCGACCACTTACACTGG TACCAACAGAAACCTGATCAGTCTCCCAAGCTCCTCATCAAATATGCTTCCCATGCCATTTCTGGGGTCC CATCGAGGTTCAGTGGCAGTGGGTCTGGGACAGACTTCACTCTCACCATCAATAGCCTAGAGGCTGAAGA TGCTGCAACGTATTACTGTCAGCAGGGTCACAGTTTTCCGCTCACTTTCGGCGGAGGGACCAAGGTGGAGATCAAA >1E11.C3 VL amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 4)EIVLTQSPDFQSVTPKEKVTITCRASQSISDHLHW YQQKPDQSPKLLIKYASHAISGVPSRFSGSGSGTDFTLTINSLEAEDAATYYCQQGHSFPLTFGGGTKVE IK

The amino acids encompassing the complementarity determining regions(CDR) are as defined by M. P. Lefranc (See Lefranc, M.-P., CurrentProtocols in Immunology, J. Wiley and Sons, New York supplement 40,A1.P.1-A.1P.37 (2000) LIGM:230). The heavy chain CDRs of the 1E11.C3antibody have the following sequences: GYPIRHGYS (SEQ ID NO: 57);IHYSGYT (SEQ ID NO: 26); and ARKDSGNYFPY (SEQ ID NO: 27). The lightchain CDRs of the 1E11.C1 antibody have the following sequences: QSISDH(SEQ ID NO: 37); YAS (SEQ ID NO: 38); and QQGHSFPLT (SEQ ID NO: 39).

An exemplary TLR4 monoclonal antibody is the 1E11.C4 antibody describedherein. As shown below, the 1E11.C4 antibody includes a heavy chainvariable region (SEQ ID NO: 73) encoded by the nucleic acid sequenceshown in SEQ ID NO: 72, and a light chain variable region (SEQ ID NO: 4)encoded by the nucleic acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:3.

>1E11.C4 VH nucleic acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 72)CAGGTGCAGCTTCAGGAGTCCGGCCCAGGACTGGT GAAGCCTTCGGACACCCTGTCCCTCACCTGCGCTGTCTCTGGTTTCCCGATCGGCCAGGGGTATAGCTGG CACTGGATACGGCAGCCCCCAGGGAAGGGACTGGAGTGGATGGGGTATATCCACTACAGTGGTTACACTG ACTTCAACCCCTCCCTCAAGACTCGAATCACCATATCACGTGACACGTCCAAGAACCAGTTCTCCCTGAA GCTGAGCTCTGTGACCGCTGTGGACACTGCAGTGTATTACTGTGCGAGAAAAGATTCGGGCAACTACTTC CCTTACTGGGGCCAAGGGACTCTGGTCACTGTCTCTTCC >1E11.C4 VH amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 73)QVQLQESGPGLVKPSDTLSLTCAVSGFPIGQGYSW HWIRQPPGKGLEWMGYIHYSGYTDFNPSLKTRITISRDTSKNQFSLKLSSVTAVDTAVYYCARKDSGNYFPYWGQGTLVTVSS >1E11.C4 VL nucleic acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 3)GAAATTGTGTTGACGCAGTCTCCAGACTTTCAGTC TGTGACTCCAAAGGAAAAAGTCACCATCACCTGCAGGGCCAGTCAGAGTATCAGCGACCACTTACACTGG TACCAACAGAAACCTGATCAGTCTCCCAAGCTCCTCATCAAATATGCTTCCCATGCCATTTCTGGGGTCC CATCGAGGTTCAGTGGCAGTGGGTCTGGGACAGACTTCACTCTCACCATCAATAGCCTAGAGGCTGAAGA TGCTGCAACGTATTACTGTCAGCAGGGTCACAGTTTTCCGCTCACTTTCGGCGGAGGGACCAAGGTGGAGATCAAA >1E11.C4 VL amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 4)EIVLTQSPDFQSVTPKEKVTITCRASQSISDHLHW YQQKPDQSPKLLIKYASHAISGVPSRFSGSGSGTDFTLTINSLEAEDAATYYCQQGHSFPLTFGGGTKVE IK

The amino acids encompassing the complementarity determining regions(CDR) are as defined by M. P. Lefranc (See Lefranc, M.-P., CurrentProtocols in Immunology, J. Wiley and Sons, New York supplement 40,A1.P.1-A.1P.37 (2000) LIGM:230). The heavy chain CDRs of the 1E11.C4antibody have the following sequences: GFPIGQGYS (SEQ ID NO: 58);IHYSGYT (SEQ ID NO: 26); and ARKDSGNYFPY (SEQ ID NO: 27). The lightchain CDRs of the 1E11.C1 antibody have the following sequences: QSISDH(SEQ ID NO: 37); YAS (SEQ ID NO: 38); and QQGHSFPLT (SEQ ID NO: 39).

An exemplary TLR4 monoclonal antibody is the 1E11.C5 antibody describedherein. As shown below, the 1E11.C5 antibody includes a heavy chainvariable region (SEQ ID NO: 75) encoded by the nucleic acid sequenceshown in SEQ ID NO: 74, and a light chain variable region (SEQ ID NO: 4)encoded by the nucleic acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:3.

>1E11.C5 VH nucleic acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 74)CAGGTGCAGCTTCAGGAGTCCGGCCCAGGACTGGT GAAGCCTTCGGACACCCTGTCCCTCACCTGCGCTGTCTCTGGTTACCCGATCTGGGGGGGCTATAGCTGG CACTGGATACGGCAGCCCCCAGGGAAGGGACTGGAGTGGATGGGGTATATCCACTACAGTGGTTACACTG ACTTCAACCCCTCCCTCAAGACTCGAATCACCATATCACGTGACACGTCCAAGAACCAGTTCTCCCTGAA GCTGAGCTCTGTGACCGCTGTGGACACTGCAGTGTATTACTGTGCGAGAAAAGATTCGGGCAACTACTTC CCTTACTGGGGCCAAGGGACTCTGGTCACTGTCTCTTCCGCCTCCACC >1E11.C5 VH amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 75)QVQLQESGPGLVKPSDTLSLTCAVSGYPIWGGYSW HWIRQPPGKGLEWMGYIHYSGYTDFNPSLKTRITISRDTSKNQFSLKLSSVTAVDTAVYYCARKDSGNYFPYWGQGTLVTVSS >1E11.C5 VL nucleic acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 3)GAAATTGTGTTGACGCAGTCTCCAGACTTTCAGTC TGTGACTCCAAAGGAAAAAGTCACCATCACCTGCAGGGCCAGTCAGAGTATCAGCGACCACTTACACTGG TACCAACAGAAACCTGATCAGTCTCCCAAGCTCCTCATCAAATATGCTTCCCATGCCATTTCTGGGGTCC CATCGAGGTTCAGTGGCAGTGGGTCTGGGACAGACTTCACTCTCACCATCAATAGCCTAGAGGCTGAAGA TGCTGCAACGTATTACTGTCAGCAGGGTCACAGTTTTCCGCTCACTTTCGGCGGAGGGACCAAGGTGGAGATCAAA >1E11.C5 VL amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 4)EIVLTQSPDFQSVTPKEKVTITCRASQSISDHLHW YQQKPDQSPKLLIKYASHAISGVPSRFSGSGSGTDFTLTINSLEAEDAATYYCQQGHSFPLTFGGGTKVE IK

The amino acids encompassing the complementarity determining regions(CDR) are as defined by M. P. Lefranc (See Lefranc, M.-P., CurrentProtocols in Immunology, J. Wiley and Sons, New York supplement 40,A1.P.1-A.1P.37 (2000) LIGM:230). The heavy chain CDRs of the 1E11.C5antibody have the following sequences: GYPIWGGYS (SEQ ID NO:59); IHYSGYT(SEQ ID NO: 26); and ARKDSGNYFPY (SEQ ID NO: 27). The light chain CDRsof the 1E11.C1 antibody have the following sequences: QSISDH (SEQ ID NO:37); YAS (SEQ ID NO: 38); and QQGHSFPLT (SEQ ID NO: 39).

An exemplary TLR4 monoclonal antibody is the 1E11.C6 antibody describedherein. As shown below, the 1E11.C6 antibody includes a heavy chainvariable region (SEQ ID NO: 77) encoded by the nucleic acid sequenceshown in SEQ ID NO: 76, and a light chain variable region (SEQ ID NO: 4)encoded by the nucleic acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:3.

>1E11.C5 VH nucleic acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 76)CAGGTGCAGCTTCAGGAGTCCGGCCCAGGACTGGT GAAGCCTTCGGACACCCTGTCCCTCACCTGCGCTGTCTCTGGTTACCCCATCGGCGGCGGCTATAGCTGG CACTGGATACGGCAGCCCCCAGGGAAGGGACTGGAGTGGATGGGGTATATCCACTACAGTGGTTACACTG ACTTCAACCCCTCCCTCAAGACTCGAATCACCATATCACGTGACACGTCCAAGAACCAGTTCTCCCTGAA GCTGAGCTCTGTGACCGCTGTGGACACTGCAGTGTATTACTGTGCGAGAAAAGATTCGGGCAACTACTTC CCTTACTGGGGCCAAGGGACTCTGGTCACTGTCTCTTCC >1E11.C5 VH amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 77)QVQLQESGPGLVKPSDTLSLTCAVSGYPIGGGYSW HWIRQPPGKGLEWMGYIHYSGYTDFNPSLKTRITISRDTSKNQFSLKLSSVTAVDTAVYYCARKDSGNYFPYWGQGTLVTVSS >1E11.C5 VL nucleic acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 3)GAAATTGTGTTGACGCAGTCTCCAGACTTTCAGTC TGTGACTCCAAAGGAAAAAGTCACCATCACCTGCAGGGCCAGTCAGAGTATCAGCGACCACTTACACTGG TACCAACAGAAACCTGATCAGTCTCCCAAGCTCCTCATCAAATATGCTTCCCATGCCATTTCTGGGGTCC CATCGAGGTTCAGTGGCAGTGGGTCTGGGACAGACTTCACTCTCACCATCAATAGCCTAGAGGCTGAAGA TGCTGCAACGTATTACTGTCAGCAGGGTCACAGTTTTCCGCTCACTTTCGGCGGAGGGACCAAGGTGGAGATCAAA >1E11.C5 VL amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 4)EIVLTQSPDFQSVTPKEKVTITCRASQSISDHLHW YQQKPDQSPKLLIKYASHAISGVPSRFSGSGSGTDFTLTINSLEAEDAATYYCQQGHSFPLTFGGGTKVE IK

The amino acids encompassing the complementarity determining regions(CDR) are as defined by M. P. Lefranc (See Lefranc, M.-P., CurrentProtocols in Immunology, J. Wiley and Sons, New York supplement 40,A1.P.1-A.1P.37 (2000) LIGM:230). The heavy chain CDRs of the 1E11.C6antibody have the following sequences: GYPIGGGYS (SEQ ID NO: 60);IHYSGYT (SEQ ID NO: 26); and ARKDSGNYFPY (SEQ ID NO: 27). The lightchain CDRs of the 1E11.C1 antibody have the following sequences: QSISDH(SEQ ID NO: 37); YAS (SEQ ID NO: 38); and QQGHSFPLT (SEQ ID NO: 39).

An exemplary TLR4 monoclonal antibody is the 1E11.E1 antibody describedherein. As shown below, the 1E11.E1 antibody includes a heavy chainvariable region (SEQ ID NO: 1) encoded by the nucleic acid sequenceshown in SEQ ID NO: 2, and a light chain variable region (SEQ ID NO: 79)encoded by the nucleic acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 78.

>1E11.E1 VH nucleic acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 1)CAGGTGCAGCTTCAGGAGTCCGGCCCAGGACTGGT GAAGCCTTCGGACACCCTGTCCCTCACCTGCGCTGTCTCTGGTTACTCCATCACCGGTGGTTATAGCTGG CACTGGATACGGCAGCCCCCAGGGAAGGGACTGGAGTGGATGGGGTATATCCACTACAGTGGTTACACTG ACTTCAACCCCTCCCTCAAGACTCGAATCACCATATCACGTGACACGTCCAAGAACCAGTTCTCCCTGAA GCTGAGCTCTGTGACCGCTGTGGACACTGCAGTGTATTACTGTGCGAGAAAAGATTCGGGCAACTACTTC CCTTACTGGGGCCAAGGGACTCTGGTCACTGTCTCTTCC >1E11.E1 VH amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 2)QVQLQESGPGLVKPSDTLSLTCAVSGYSITGGYSW HWIRQPPGKGLEWMGYIHYSGYTDFNPSLKTRITISRDTSKNQFSLKLSSVTAVDTAVYYCARKDSGNYFPYWGQGTLVTVSS >1E11.E1 VL nucleic acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 78)GAAATTGTGTTGACGCAGTCTCCAGACTTTCAGTC TGTGACTCCAAAGGAAAAAGTCACCATCACCTGCAGGGCCAGTCAGAGTATCAGCGACCACTTACACTGG TACCAACAGAAACCTGATCAGTCTCCCAAGCTCCTCATCAAATATGCTTCCCATGCCATTTCTGGGGTCC CATCGAGGTTCAGTGGCAGTGGGTCTGGGACAGACTTCACTCTCACCATCAATAGCCTAGAGGCTGAAGA TGCTGCAACGTATTACTGTCAGCAGGGGAACGACTTCCCGGTGACTTTCGGCGGAGGGACCAAGGTGGAGATCAAA >1E11.E1 VL amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 79)EIVLTQSPDFQSVTPKEKVTITCRASQSISDHLHW YQQKPDQSPKLLIKYASHAISGVPSRFSGSGSGTDFTLTINSLEAEDAATYYCQQGNDFPVTFGGGTKVE IK

The amino acids encompassing the complementarity determining regions(CDR) are as defined by M. P. Lefranc (See Lefranc, M.-P., CurrentProtocols in Immunology, J. Wiley and Sons, New York supplement 40,A1.P.1-A.1P.37 (2000) LIGM:230). The heavy chain CDRs of the 1E11.E1antibody have the following sequences: GYSITGGYS (SEQ ID NO: 25);IHYSGYT (SEQ ID NO: 26); and ARKDSGNYFPY (SEQ ID NO: 27). The lightchain CDRs of the 1E11 antibody have the following sequences: QSISDH(SEQ ID NO: 37); YAS (SEQ ID NO: 38); and QQGNDFPVT (SEQ ID NO: 61).

An exemplary TLR4 monoclonal antibody is the 1E11.E2 antibody describedherein. As shown below, the 1E11.E2 antibody includes a heavy chainvariable region (SEQ ID NO: 1) encoded by the nucleic acid sequenceshown in SEQ ID NO:2, and a light chain variable region (SEQ ID NO: 81)encoded by the nucleic acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 80.

>1E11.E2 VH nucleic acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 1)CAGGTGCAGCTTCAGGAGTCCGGCCCAGGACTGGT GAAGCCTTCGGACACCCTGTCCCTCACCTGCGCTGTCTCTGGTTACTCCATCACCGGTGGTTATAGCTGG CACTGGATACGGCAGCCCCCAGGGAAGGGACTGGAGTGGATGGGGTATATCCACTACAGTGGTTACACTG ACTTCAACCCCTCCCTCAAGACTCGAATCACCATATCACGTGACACGTCCAAGAACCAGTTCTCCCTGAA GCTGAGCTCTGTGACCGCTGTGGACACTGCAGTGTATTACTGTGCGAGAAAAGATTCGGGCAACTACTTC CCTTACTGGGGCCAAGGGACTCTGGTCACTGTCTCTTCC >1E11.E2 VH amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 2)QVQLQESGPGLVKPSDTLSLTCAVSGYSITGGYSW HWIRQPPGKGLEWMGYIHYSGYTDFNPSLKTRITISRDTSKNQFSLKLSSVTAVDTAVYYCARKDSGNYFPYWGQGTLVTVSS >1E11.E2 VL nucleic acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 80)GAAATTGTGTTGACGCAGTCTCCAGACTTTCAGTC TGTGACTCCAAAGGAAAAAGTCACCATCACCTGCAGGGCCAGTCAGAGTATCAGCGACCACTTACACTGG TACCAACAGAAACCTGATCAGTCTCCCAAGCTCCTCATCAAATATGCTTCCCATGCCATTTCTGGGGTCC CATCGAGGTTCAGTGGCAGTGGGTCTGGGACAGACTTCACTCTCACCATCAATAGCCTAGAGGCTGAAGA TGCTGCAACGTATTACTGTCAGCAGGGGTACGACGAGCCGTTCACTTTCGGCGGAGGGACCAAGGTGGAGATCAAA >1E11.E2 VL amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 81)EIVLTQSPDFQSVTPKEKVTITCRASQSISDHLHW YQQKPDQSPKLLIKYASHAISGVPSRFSGSGSGTDFTLTINSLEAEDAATYYCQQGYDEPFTFGGGTKVE IK

The amino acids encompassing the complementarity determining regions(CDR) are as defined by M. P. Lefranc (See Lefranc, M.-P., CurrentProtocols in Immunology, J. Wiley and Sons, New York supplement 40,A1.P.1-A.1P.37 (2000) LIGM:230). The heavy chain CDRs of the 1E11.E2antibody have the following sequences: GYSITGGYS (SEQ ID NO: 25);IHYSGYT (SEQ ID NO: 26); and ARKDSGNYFPY (SEQ ID NO: 27). The lightchain CDRs of the 1E11 antibody have the following sequences: QSISDH(SEQ ID NO: 37); YAS (SEQ ID NO: 38); and QQGYDEPFT (SEQ ID NO: 62).

An exemplary TLR4 monoclonal antibody is the 1E11.E3 antibody describedherein. As shown below, the 1E11.E3 antibody includes a heavy chainvariable region (SEQ ID NO: 1) encoded by the nucleic acid sequenceshown in SEQ ID NO:2, and a light chain variable region (SEQ ID NO: 83)encoded by the nucleic acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 82.

>1E11.E3 VH nucleic acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 1)CAGGTGCAGCTTCAGGAGTCCGGCCCAGGACTGGT GAAGCCTTCGGACACCCTGTCCCTCACCTGCGCTGTCTCTGGTTACTCCATCACCGGTGGTTATAGCTGG CACTGGATACGGCAGCCCCCAGGGAAGGGACTGGAGTGGATGGGGTATATCCACTACAGTGGTTACACTG ACTTCAACCCCTCCCTCAAGACTCGAATCACCATATCACGTGACACGTCCAAGAACCAGTTCTCCCTGAA GCTGAGCTCTGTGACCGCTGTGGACACTGCAGTGTATTACTGTGCGAGAAAAGATTCGGGCAACTACTTC CCTTACTGGGGCCAAGGGACTCTGGTCACTGTCTCTTCC >1E11.E3 VH amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 2)QVQLQESGPGLVKPSDTLSLTCAVSGYSITGGYSW HWIRQPPGKGLEWMGYIHYSGYTDFNPSLKTRITISRDTSKNQFSLKLSSVTAVDTAVYYCARKDSGNYFPYWGQGTLVTVSS >1E11.E3 VL nucleic acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 82)GAAATTGTGTTGACGCAGTCTCCAGACTTTCAGTC TGTGACTCCAAAGGAAAAAGTCACCATCACCTGCAGGGCCAGTCAGAGTATCAGCGACCACTTACACTGG TACCAACAGAAACCTGATCAGTCTCCCAAGCTCCTCATCAAATATGCTTCCCATGCCATTTCTGGGGTCC CATCGAGGTTCAGTGGCAGTGGGTCTGGGACAGACTTCACTCTCACCATCAATAGCCTAGAGGCTGAAGA TGCTGCAACGTATTACTGTCAGCAGGGCTACGACTTCCCGTTGACTTTCGGCGGAGGGACCAAGGTGGAGATCAAA >1E11.E3 VL amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 83)EIVLTQSPDFQSVTPKEKVTITCRASQSISDHLHW YQQKPDQSPKLLIKYASHAISGVPSRFSGSGSGTDFTLTINSLEAEDAATYYCQQGYDFPLTFGGGTKVE IK

The amino acids encompassing the complementarity determining regions(CDR) are as defined by M. P. Lefranc (See Lefranc, M.-P., CurrentProtocols in Immunology, J. Wiley and Sons, New York supplement 40,A1.P.1-A.1P.37 (2000) LIGM:230). The heavy chain CDRs of the 1E11.E3antibody have the following sequences: GYSITGGYS (SEQ ID NO: 25);IHYSGYT (SEQ ID NO: 26); and ARKDSGNYFPY (SEQ ID NO: 27). The lightchain CDRs of the 1E11 antibody have the following sequences: QSISDH(SEQ ID NO: 37); YAS (SEQ ID NO: 38); and QQGYDFPLT (SEQ ID NO: 63).

An exemplary TLR4 monoclonal antibody is the 1E11.E4 antibody describedherein. As shown below, the 1E11.E4 antibody includes a heavy chainvariable region (SEQ ID NO: 1) encoded by the nucleic acid sequenceshown in SEQ ID NO:2, and a light chain variable region (SEQ ID NO: 85)encoded by the nucleic acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 84.

>1E11.E4 VH nucleic acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 1)CAGGTGCAGCTTCAGGAGTCCGGCCCAGGACTGGT GAAGCCTTCGGACACCCTGTCCCTCACCTGCGCTGTCTCTGGTTACTCCATCACCGGTGGTTATAGCTGG CACTGGATACGGCAGCCCCCAGGGAAGGGACTGGAGTGGATGGGGTATATCCACTACAGTGGTTACACTG ACTTCAACCCCTCCCTCAAGACTCGAATCACCATATCACGTGACACGTCCAAGAACCAGTTCTCCCTGAA GCTGAGCTCTGTGACCGCTGTGGACACTGCAGTGTATTACTGTGCGAGAAAAGATTCGGGCAACTACTTC CCTTACTGGGGCCAAGGGACTCTGGTCACTGTCTCTTCC >1E11.E4 VH amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 2)QVQLQESGPGLVKPSDTLSLTCAVSGYSITGGYSW HWIRQPPGKGLEWMGYIHYSGYTDFNPSLKTRITISRDTSKNQFSLKLSSVTAVDTAVYYCARKDSGNYFPYWGQGTLVTVSS >1E11.E4 VL nucleic acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 84)GAAATTGTGTTGACGCAGTCTCCAGACTTTCAGTC TGTGACTCCAAAGGAAAAAGTCACCATCACCTGCAGGGCCAGTCAGAGTATCAGCGACCACTTACACTGG TACCAACAGAAACCTGATCAGTCTCCCAAGCTCCTCATCAAATATGCTTCCCATGCCATTTCTGGGGTCC CATCGAGGTTCAGTGGCAGTGGGTCTGGGACAGACTTCACTCTCACCATCAATAGCCTAGAGGCTGAAGA TGCTGCAACGTATTACTGTCAGCAGGGCTACGACTACCCGCTCACTTTCGGCGGAGGGACCAAGGTGGAGATCAAA >1E11.E4 VL amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 85)EIVLTQSPDFQSVTPKEKVTITCRASQSISDHLHW YQQKPDQSPKLLIKYASHAISGVPSRFSGSGSGTDFTLTINSLEAEDAATYYCQQGYDYPLTFGGGTKVE IK

The amino acids encompassing the complementarity determining regions(CDR) are as defined by M. P. Lefranc (See Lefranc, M.-P., CurrentProtocols in Immunology, J. Wiley and Sons, New York supplement 40,A1.P.1-A.1P.37 (2000) LIGM:230). The heavy chain CDRs of the 1E11.E4antibody have the following sequences: GYSITGGYS (SEQ ID NO: 25);IHYSGYT (SEQ ID NO: 26); and ARKDSGNYFPY (SEQ ID NO: 27). The lightchain CDRs of the 1E11 antibody have the following sequences: QSISDH(SEQ ID NO: 37); YAS (SEQ ID NO: 38); and QQGYDYPLT (SEQ ID NO: 64).

An exemplary TLR4 monoclonal antibody is the 1E11.E5 antibody describedherein. As shown below, the 1E11.E5 antibody includes a heavy chainvariable region (SEQ ID NO:1) encoded by the nucleic acid sequence shownin SEQ ID NO:2, and a light chain variable region (SEQ ID NO: 87)encoded by the nucleic acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 86.

>1E11.E5 VH nucleic acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 1)CAGGTGCAGCTTCAGGAGTCCGGCCCAGGACTGGTGAAGCCTTCGGACACCCTGTCCCTCACCTGCGCTGTCTCTGGTTACTCCATCACCGGTGGTTATAGCTGGCACTGGATACGGCAGCCCCCAGGGAAGGGACTGGAGTGGATGGGGTATATCCACTACAGTGGTTACACTGACTTCAACCCCTCCCTCAAGACTCGAATCACCATATCACGTGACACGTCCAAGAACCAGTTCTCCCTGAAGCTGAGCTCTGTGACCGCTGTGGACACTGCAGTGTATTACTGTGCGAGAAAAGATTCGGGCAACTACTTCCCTTACTGGGGCCAAGGGACTCTGGTCACTGTCTCTTCC >1E11.E5 VH amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 2)QVQLQESGPGLVKPSDTLSLTCAVSGYSITGGYSWHWIRQPPGKGLEWMGYIHYSGYTDFNPSLKTRITISRDTSKNQFSLKLSSVTAVDTAVYYCARKDSGNYFPYWGQGTLVTVSS >1E11.E5 VL nucleic acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 86)GAAATTGTGTTGACGCAGTCTCCAGACTTTCAGTCTGTGACTCCAAAGGAAAAAGTCACCATCACCTGCAGGGCCAGTCAGAGTATCAGCGACCACTTACACTGGTACCAACAGAAACCTGATCAGTCTCCCAAGCTCCTCATCAAATATGCTTCCCATGCCATTTCTGGGGTCCCATCGAGGTTCAGTGGCAGTGGGTCTGGGACAGACTTCACTCTCACCATCAATAGCCTAGAGGCTGAAGATGCTGCAACGTATTACTGTCAGCAGGGCTACGAGTTCCCGTTGACTTTCGGCGGAGGGACCAAGGTGGAGATCAAA >1E11.E5 VL amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 87)EIVLTQSPDFQSVTPKEKVTITCRASQSISDHLHWYQQKPDQSPKLLIKYASHAISGVPSRFSGSGSGTDFTLTINSLEAEDAATYYCQQGYEFPLTFGG GTKVEIK

The amino acids encompassing the complementarity determining regions(CDR) are as defined by M. P. Lefranc (See Lefranc, M.-P., CurrentProtocols in Immunology, J. Wiley and Sons, New York supplement 40,A1.P.1-A.1P.37 (2000) LIGM:230). The heavy chain CDRs of the 1E11.E5antibody have the following sequences: GYSITGGYS (SEQ ID NO: 25);IHYSGYT (SEQ ID NO: 26); and ARKDSGNYFPY (SEQ ID NO: 27). The lightchain CDRs of the 1E11 antibody have the following sequences: QSISDH(SEQ ID NO: 37); YAS (SEQ ID NO: 38); and QQGYEFPLT (SEQ ID NO: 65).

An exemplary TLR4 monoclonal antibody is the 1E11.C2E1 antibodydescribed herein. As shown below, the 1E11.C2E1 antibody includes aheavy chain variable region (SEQ ID NO: 89) encoded by the nucleic acidsequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 88, and a light chain variable region (SEQID NO: 91) encoded by the nucleic acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 90.

>1E11.C2E1 VH nucleic acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 88)CAGGTGCAGCTTCAGGAGTCCGGCCCAGGACTGGTGAAGCCTTCGGACACCCTGTCCCTCACCTGCGCTGTCTCTGGTTACCCGATCCGGTTCGGCTATAGCTGGCACTGGATACGGCAGCCCCCAGGGAAGGGACTGGAGTGGATGGGGTATATCCACTACAGTGGTTACACTGACTTCAACCCCTCCCTCAAGACTCGAATCACCATATCACGTGACACGTCCAAGAACCAGTTCTCCCTGAAGCTGAGCTCTGTGACCGCTGTGGACACTGCAGTGTATTACTGTGCGAGAAAAGATTCGGGCAACTACTTCCCTTACTGGGGCCAAGGGACTCTGGTCACTGTCTCTTCC >1E11.C2E1 VH amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 89)QVQLQESGPGLVKPSDTLSLTCAVSGYPIRFGYSWHWIRQPPGKGLEWMGYIHYSGYTDFNPSLKTRITISRDTSKNQFSLKLSSVTAVDTAVYYCARKDSGNYFPYWGQGTLVTVSS >1E11.C2E1 VL nucleic acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 90)GAAATTGTGTTGACGCAGTCTCCAGACTTTCAGTCTGTGACTCCAAAGGAAAAAGTCACCATCACCTGCAGGGCCAGTCAGAGTATCAGCGACCACTTACACTGGTACCAACAGAAACCTGATCAGTCTCCCAAGCTCCTCATCAAATATGCTTCCCATGCCATTTCTGGGGTCCCATCGAGGTTCAGTGGCAGTGGGTCTGGGACAGACTTCACTCTCACCATCAATAGCCTAGAGGCTGAAGATGCTGCAACGTATTACTGTCAGCAGGGGAACGACTTCCCGGTGACTTTCGGCGGAGGGACCAAGGTGGAGATCAAA >1E11.C2E1 VL amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 91)EIVLTQSPDFQSVTPKEKVTITCRASQSISDHLHWYQQKPDQSPKLLIKYASHAISGVPSRFSGSGSGTDFTLTINSLEAEDAATYYCQQGNDFPVTFGG GTKVEIK

The amino acids encompassing the complementarity determining regions(CDR) are as defined by M. P. Lefranc (See Lefranc, M.-P., CurrentProtocols in Immunology, J. Wiley and Sons, New York supplement 40,A1.P.1-A.1P.37 (2000) LIGM:230). The heavy chain CDRs of the 1E11.C2E1antibody have the following sequences: GYPIRFGYS (SEQ ID NO: 56);IHYSGYT (SEQ ID NO: 26); and ARKDSGNYFPY (SEQ ID NO: 27). The lightchain CDRs of the 1E11 antibody have the following sequences: QSISDH(SEQ ID NO: 37); YAS (SEQ ID NO: 38); and QQGNDFPVT (SEQ ID NO: 61).

An exemplary TLR4 monoclonal antibody is the 1E11.C2E3 antibodydescribed herein. As shown below, the 1E11.C2E3 antibody includes aheavy chain variable region (SEQ ID NO: 93) encoded by the nucleic acidsequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 92, and a light chain variable region (SEQID NO: 95) encoded by the nucleic acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 94.

>1E11.C2E3 VH nucleic acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 92)CAGGTGCAGCTTCAGGAGTCCGGCCCAGGACTGGTGAAGCCTTCGGACACCCTGTCCCTCACCTGCGCTGTCTCTGGTTACCCGATCCGGTTCGGCTATAGCTGGCACTGGATACGGCAGCCCCCAGGGAAGGGACTGGAGTGGATGGGGTATATCCACTACAGTGGTTACACTGACTTCAACCCCTCCCTCAAGACTCGAATCACCATATCACGTGACACGTCCAAGAACCAGTTCTCCCTGAAGCTGAGCTCTGTGACCGCTGTGGACACTGCAGTGTATTACTGTGCGAGAAAAGATTCGGGCAACTACTTCCCTTACTGGGGCCAAGGGACTCTGGTCACTGTCTCTTCC >1E11.C2E3 VH amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 93)QVQLQESGPGLVKPSDTLSLTCAVSGYPIRFGYSWHWIRQPPGKGLEWMGYIHYSGYTDFNPSLKTRITISRDTSKNQFSLKLSSVTAVDTAVYYCARKDSGNYFPYWGQGTLVTVSS >1E11.C2E3 VL nucleic acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 94)GAAATTGTGTTGACGCAGTCTCCAGACTTTCAGTCTGTGACTCCAAAGGAAAAAGTCACCATCACCTGCAGGGCCAGTCAGAGTATCAGCGACCACTTACACTGGTACCAACAGAAACCTGATCAGTCTCCCAAGCTCCTCATCAAATATGCTTCCCATGCCATTTCTGGGGTCCCATCGAGGTTCAGTGGCAGTGGGTCTGGGACAGACTTCACTCTCACCATCAATAGCCTAGAGGCTGAAGATGCTGCAACGTATTACTGTCAGCAGGGCTACGACTTCCCGTTGACTTTCGGCGGAGGGACCAAGGTGGAGATCAAA >1E11.C2E3 VL amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 95)EIVLTQSPDFQSVTPKEKVTITCRASQSISDHLHWYQQKPDQSPKLLIKYASHAISGVPSRFSGSGSGTDFTLTINSLEAEDAATYYCQQGYDFPLTFGG GTKVEIK

The amino acids encompassing the complementarity determining regions(CDR) are as defined by M. P. Lefranc (See Lefranc, M.-P., CurrentProtocols in Immunology, J. Wiley and Sons, New York supplement 40,A1.P.1-A.1P.37 (2000) LIGM:230). The heavy chain CDRs of the 1E11.C2E3antibody have the following sequences: GYPIRFGYS (SEQ ID NO: 56);IHYSGYT (SEQ ID NO: 26); and ARKDSGNYFPY (SEQ ID NO: 27). The lightchain CDRs of the 1E11 antibody have the following sequences: QSISDH(SEQ ID NO: 37); YAS (SEQ ID NO: 38); and QQGYDFPLT (SEQ ID NO: 63).

An exemplary TLR4 monoclonal antibody is the 1E11.C2E4 antibodydescribed herein. As shown below, the 1E11.C2E4 antibody includes aheavy chain variable region (SEQ ID NO: 97) encoded by the nucleic acidsequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 96, and a light chain variable region (SEQID NO: 99) encoded by the nucleic acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 98.

>1E11.C2E4 VH nucleic acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 96)CAGGTGCAGCTTCAGGAGTCCGGCCCAGGACTGGTGAAGCCTTCGGACACCCTGTCCCTCACCTGCGCTGTCTCTGGTTACCCGATCCGGTTCGGCTATAGCTGGCACTGGATACGGCAGCCCCCAGGGAAGGGACTGGAGTGGATGGGGTATATCCACTACAGTGGTTACACTGACTTCAACCCCTCCCTCAAGACTCGAATCACCATATCACGTGACACGTCCAAGAACCAGTTCTCCCTGAAGCTGAGCTCTGTGACCGCTGTGGACACTGCAGTGTATTACTGTGCGAGAAAAGATTCGGGCAACTACTTCCCTTACTGGGGCCAAGGGACTCTGGTCACTGTCTCTTCC >1E11.C2E4 VH amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 97)QVQLQESGPGLVKPSDTLSLTCAVSGYPIRFGYSWHWIRQPPGKGLEWMGYIHYSGYTDFNPSLKTRITISRDTSKNQFSLKLSSVTAVDTAVYYCARKDSGNYFPYWGQGTLVTVSS >1E11.C2E4 VL nucleic acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 98)GAAATTGTGTTGACGCAGTCTCCAGACTTTCAGTCTGTGACTCCAAAGGAAAAAGTCACCATCACCTGCAGGGCCAGTCAGAGTATCAGCGACCACTTACACTGGTACCAACAGAAACCTGATCAGTCTCCCAAGCTCCTCATCAAATATGCTTCCCATGCCATTTCTGGGGTCCCATCGAGGTTCAGTGGCAGTGGGTCTGGGACAGACTTCACTCTCACCATCAATAGCCTAGAGGCTGAAGATGCTGCAACGTATTACTGTCAGCAGGGCTACGACTACCCGCTCACTTTCGGCGGAGGGACCAAGGTGGAGATCAAA >1E11.C2E4 VL amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 99)EIVLTQSPDFQSVTPKEKVTITCRASQSISDHLHWYQQKPDQSPKLLIKYASHAISGVPSRFSGSGSGTDFTLTINSLEAEDAATYYCQQGYDYPLTFGG GTKVEIK

The amino acids encompassing the complementarity determining regions(CDR) are as defined by M. P. Lefranc (See Lefranc, M.-P., CurrentProtocols in Immunology, J. Wiley and Sons, New York supplement 40,A1.P.1-A.1P.37 (2000) LIGM:230). The heavy chain CDRs of the 1E11.C2E4antibody have the following sequences: GYPIRFGYS (SEQ ID NO: 56);IHYSGYT (SEQ ID NO: 26); and ARKDSGNYFPY (SEQ ID NO: 27). The lightchain CDRs of the 1E11 antibody have the following sequences: QSISDH(SEQ ID NO: 37); YAS (SEQ ID NO: 38); and QQGYDYPLT (SEQ ID NO: 64).

An exemplary TLR4 monoclonal antibody is the 1E11.C2E5 antibodydescribed herein. As shown below, the 1E11.C2E5 antibody includes aheavy chain variable region (SEQ ID NO: 101) encoded by the nucleic acidsequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 100, and a light chain variable region (SEQID NO: 103) encoded by the nucleic acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:102.

>1E11.C2E5 VH nucleic acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 100)CAGGTGCAGCTTCAGGAGTCCGGCCCAGGACTGGTGAAGCCTTCGGACACCCTGTCCCTCACCTGCGCTGTCTCTGGTTACCCGATCCGGTTCGGCTATAGCTGGCACTGGATACGGCAGCCCCCAGGGAAGGGACTGGAGTGGATGGGGTATATCCACTACAGTGGTTACACTGACTTCAACCCCTCCCTCAAGACTCGAATCACCATATCACGTGACACGTCCAAGAACCAGTTCTCCCTGAAGCTGAGCTCTGTGACCGCTGTGGACACTGCAGTGTATTACTGTGCGAGAAAAGATTCGGGCAACTACTTCCCTTACTGGGGCCAAGGGACTCTGGTCACTGTCTCTTCC >1E11.C2E5 VH amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 101)QVQLQESGPGLVKPSDTLSLTCAVSGYPIRFGYSWHWIRQPPGKGLEWMGYIHYSGYTDFNPSLKTRITISRDTSKNQFSLKLSSVTAVDTAVYYCARKDSGNYFPYWGQGTLVTVSS >1E11.C2E5 VL nucleic acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 102)GAAATTGTGTTGACGCAGTCTCCAGACTTTCAGTCTGTGACTCCAAAGGAAAAAGTCACCATCACCTGCAGGGCCAGTCAGAGTATCAGCGACCACTTACACTGGTACCAACAGAAACCTGATCAGTCTCCCAAGCTCCTCATCAAATATGCTTCCCATGCCATTTCTGGGGTCCCATCGAGGTTCAGTGGCAGTGGGTCTGGGACAGACTTCACTCTCACCATCAATAGCCTAGAGGCTGAAGATGCTGCAACGTATTACTGTCAGCAGGGCTACGAGTTCCCGTTGACTTTCGGCGGAGGGACCAAGGTGGAGATCAAA >1E11.C2E5 VL amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 103)EIVLTQSPDFQSVTPKEKVTITCRASQSISDHLHWYQQKPDQSPKLLIKYASHAISGVPSRFSGSGSGTDFTLTINSLEAEDAATYYCQQGYEFPLTFGG GTKVEIK

The amino acids encompassing the complementarity determining regions(CDR) are as defined by M. P. Lefranc (See Lefranc, M.-P., CurrentProtocols in Immunology, J. Wiley and Sons, New York supplement 40,A1.P.1-A.1P.37 (2000) LIGM:230). The heavy chain CDRs of the 1E11.C2E5antibody have the following sequences: GYPIRFGYS (SEQ ID NO: 56);IHYSGYT (SEQ ID NO: 26); and ARKDSGNYFPY (SEQ ID NO: 27). The lightchain CDRs of the 1E11 antibody have the following sequences: QSISDH(SEQ ID NO: 37); YAS (SEQ ID NO: 38); and QQGYEFPLT (SEQ ID NO: 65).

TLR4 antibodies of the invention specifically bind human and/orcynomolgus TLR4/MD-2 complex, wherein the antibody binds to an epitopethat includes one or more amino acid residues on human and/or cynomolgusTLR4 between residues 325 and 374 of SEQ ID NO: 23 (human) and SEQ IDNO: 24 (cynomolgus). Alternatively, the monoclonal antibody is anantibody that binds to the same epitope as 1A1, 1A6, 1B12, 1C7, 1C10,1C12, 1D10, 1E11, 1E11 N103D, 1G12, 1E11.C1, 1E11.C2, 1E11.C3, 1E11.C4,1E11.C5, 1E11.C6, 1E11.E1, 1E11.E2, 1E11.E3, 1E11.E4, 1E11.E5,1E11.C2E1, 1E11.C2E3, 1E11.C2E4 and 1E11.C2E5.

The anti-TLR4 antibodies of the invention include an altered antibody inwhich at least the amino acid residue at EU position 325 and at leastthe amino acid residue at EU position 328 in the CH2 domain of the Feportion of the antibody has been modified. For example, at least theamino acid residue at EU position 325 has been substituted with serine,and at least the amino acid residue at EU position 328 has beensubstituted with phenylalanine.

These anti-TLR4 antibodies with a modified Fc portion elicit modifiedeffector functions e.g., a modified Fc receptor activity, as compared toan unaltered antibody. For example, the human Fc receptor is CD32A. Insome embodiments, these anti-TLR4 antibodies elicit a prevention ofproinflammatory mediators release following ligation to CD32A ascompared to an unaltered antibody. Thus, these anti-TLR4 antibodieselicit a modified Fc receptor activity, such as the prevention ofproinflammatory mediators release while retaining the ability to bind atarget antigen. In some embodiments, these anti-TLR4 antibodies areneutralizing antibodies, wherein the anti-TLR4 antibody elicits amodified Fc receptor activity, while retaining the ability to neutralizeone or more biological activities of a target antigen.

For example, anti-TLR4 antibodies of the invention include monoclonalantibodies that bind the human TLR4/MD-2 receptor complex. This receptorcomplex is activated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS), the major component ofthe outer membrane of gram-negative bacteria. The anti-TLR4 antibodiesof the invention inhibit receptor activation and subsequentintracellular signaling via LPS. Thus, the anti-TLR4 antibodiesneutralize the activation of the TLR4/MD-2 receptor complex. Inparticular, the invention provides anti-TLR4 antibodies that recognizethe TLR4/MD-2 receptor complex expressed on the cell surface. Theseanti-TLR4 antibodies block LPS-induced IL-8 production. In addition,some anti-TLR4 antibodies of the invention also recognize TLR4 when notcomplexed with MD-2. The altered antibody is, e.g., a humanizedantibody.

Definitions

Unless otherwise defined, scientific and technical terms used inconnection with the present invention shall have the meanings that arecommonly understood by those of ordinary skill in the art. Further,unless otherwise required by context, singular terms shall includepluralities and plural terms shall include the singular. Generally,nomenclatures utilized in connection with, and techniques of, cell andtissue culture, molecular biology, and protein and oligo- orpolynucleotide chemistry and hybridization described herein are thosewell-known and commonly used in the art. Standard techniques are usedfor recombinant DNA, oligonucleotide synthesis, and tissue culture andtransformation (e.g., electroporation, lipofection). Enzymatic reactionsand purification techniques are performed according to manufacturer'sspecifications or as commonly accomplished in the art or as describedherein. The foregoing techniques and procedures are generally performedaccording to conventional methods well known in the art and as describedin various general and more specific references that are cited anddiscussed throughout the present specification. See e.g., Sambrook etal. Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual (2d ed., Cold Spring HarborLaboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y. (1989)). The nomenclaturesutilized in connection with, and the laboratory procedures andtechniques of, analytical chemistry, synthetic organic chemistry, andmedicinal and pharmaceutical chemistry described herein are thosewell-known and commonly used in the art. Standard techniques are usedfor chemical syntheses, chemical analyses, pharmaceutical preparation,formulation, and delivery, and treatment of patients.

As utilized in accordance with the present disclosure, the followingterms, unless otherwise indicated, shall be understood to have thefollowing meanings:

As used herein, the term “antibody” refers to immunoglobulin moleculesand immunologically active portions of immunoglobulin (Ig) molecules,i.e., molecules that contain an antigen binding site that specificallybinds (immunoreacts with) an antigen. By “specifically bind” or“immunoreacts with” or “immunospecifically bind” is meant that theantibody reacts with one or more antigenic determinants of the desiredantigen and does not react with other polypeptides or binds at muchlower affinity (K_(d)>10′). Antibodies include, but are not limited to,polyclonal, monoclonal, chimeric, dAb (domain antibody), single chain,Fab, Fab, and F_((ab′)2) fragments, scFvs, and an Fab expressionlibrary.

The basic antibody structural unit is known to comprise a tetramer. Eachtetramer is composed of two identical pairs of polypeptide chains, eachpair having one “light” (about 25 kDa) and one “heavy” chain (about50-70 kDa). The amino-terminal portion of each chain includes a variableregion of about 100 to 110 or more amino acids primarily responsible forantigen recognition. The carboxy-terminal portion of each chain definesa constant region primarily responsible for effector function. Ingeneral, antibody molecules obtained from humans relate to any of theclasses IgG, IgM, IgA, IgE and IgD, which differ from one another by thenature of the heavy chain present in the molecule. Certain classes havesubclasses as well, such as IgG₁, IgG₂, and others. Furthermore, inhumans, the light chain may be a kappa chain or a lambda chain.

The term “monoclonal antibody” (MAb) or “monoclonal antibodycomposition”, as used herein, refers to a population of antibodymolecules that contain only one molecular species of antibody moleculeconsisting of a unique light chain gene product and a unique heavy chaingene product. In particular, the complementarity determining regions(CDRs) of the monoclonal antibody are identical in all the molecules ofthe population. MAbs contain an antigen binding site capable ofimmunoreacting with a particular epitope of the antigen characterized bya unique binding affinity for it.

The term “antigen-binding site,” or “binding portion” refers to the partof the immunoglobulin molecule that participates in antigen binding. Theantigen binding site is formed by amino acid residues of the N-terminalvariable (“V”) regions of the heavy (“H”) and light (“L”) chains. Threehighly divergent stretches within the V regions of the heavy and lightchains, referred to as “hypervariable regions,” are interposed betweenmore conserved flanking stretches known as “framework regions,” or“FRs”. Thus, the term “FR” refers to amino acid sequences which arenaturally found between, and adjacent to, hypervariable regions inimmunoglobulins. In an antibody molecule, the three hypervariableregions of a light chain and the three hypervariable regions of a heavychain are disposed relative to each other in three dimensional space toform an antigen-binding surface. The antigen-binding surface iscomplementary to the three-dimensional surface of a bound antigen, andthe three hypervariable regions of each of the heavy and light chainsare referred to as “complementarity-determining regions,” or “CDRs.” Theassignment of amino acids to each domain is in accordance with thedefinitions of Kabat Sequences of Proteins of Immunological Interest(National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Md. (1987 and 1991)), orChothia & Lesk J. Mol. Biol. 196:901-917 (1987), Chothia et al. Nature342:878-883 (1989).

As used herein, the term “epitope” includes any protein determinantcapable of specific binding to an immunoglobulin, an scFv, or a T-cellreceptor. The term “epitope” includes any protein determinant capable ofspecific binding to an immunoglobulin or T-cell receptor. Epitopicdeterminants usually consist of chemically active surface groupings ofmolecules such as amino acids or sugar side chains and usually havespecific three dimensional structural characteristics, as well asspecific charge characteristics. For example, antibodies may be raisedagainst N-terminal or C-terminal peptides of a polypeptide. An antibodyis the to specifically bind an antigen when the dissociation constant is≤1 μM; e.g., ≤100 nM, preferably ≤10 nM and more preferably ≤1 nM.

As used herein, the terms “immunological binding,” and “immunologicalbinding properties” refer to the non-covalent interactions of the typewhich occur between an immunoglobulin molecule and an antigen for whichthe immunoglobulin is specific. The strength, or affinity ofimmunological binding interactions can be expressed in terms of thedissociation constant (K_(d)) of the interaction, wherein a smallerK_(d) represents a greater affinity. Immunological binding properties ofselected polypeptides can be quantified using methods well known in theart. One such method entails measuring the rates of antigen-bindingsite/antigen complex formation and dissociation, wherein those ratesdepend on the concentrations of the complex partners, the affinity ofthe interaction, and geometric parameters that equally influence therate in both directions. Thus, both the “on rate constant” (K_(on)) andthe “off rate constant” (K_(off)) can be determined by calculation ofthe concentrations and the actual rates of association and dissociation.(See Nature 361:186-87 (1993)). The ratio of K_(off)/K_(on) enables thecancellation of all parameters not related to affinity, and is equal tothe dissociation constant K_(d). (See, generally, Davies et al. (1990)Annual Rev Biochem 59: 439-473). An antibody of the present invention isthe to specifically bind to its target, when the equilibrium bindingconstant (K_(d)) is ≤1 μM, e.g., ≤100 nM, preferably ≤10 nM, and morepreferably ≤1 nM, as measured by assays such as radioligand bindingassays or similar assays known to those skilled in the art.

The term “isolated polynucleotide” as used herein shall mean apolynucleotide of genomic, cDNA, or synthetic origin or some combinationthereof, which by virtue of its origin the “isolated polynucleotide” (1)is not associated with all or a portion of a polynucleotide in which the“isolated polynucleotide” is found in nature, (2) is operably linked toa polynucleotide which it is not linked to in nature, or (3) does notoccur in nature as part of a larger sequence. Polynucleotides inaccordance with the invention include the nucleic acid moleculesencoding the heavy chain immunoglobulin molecules, and nucleic acidmolecules encoding the light chain immunoglobulin molecules describedherein.

The term “isolated protein” referred to herein means a protein of cDNA,recombinant RNA, or synthetic origin or some combination thereof, whichby virtue of its origin, or source of derivation, the “isolated protein”(1) is not associated with proteins found in nature, (2) is free ofother proteins from the same source, e.g., free of marine proteins, (3)is expressed by a cell from a different species, or (4) does not occurin nature.

The term “polypeptide” is used herein as a generic term to refer tonative protein, fragments, or analogs of a polypeptide sequence. Hence,native protein fragments, and analogs are species of the polypeptidegenus. Polypeptides in accordance with the invention comprise the heavychain immunoglobulin molecules, and the light chain immunoglobulinmolecules described herein, as well as antibody molecules formed bycombinations comprising the heavy chain immunoglobulin molecules withlight chain immunoglobulin molecules, such as kappa light chainimmunoglobulin molecules, and vice versa, as well as fragments andanalogs thereof.

The term “naturally-occurring” as used herein as applied to an objectrefers to the fact that an object can be found in nature. For example, apolypeptide or polynucleotide sequence that is present in an organism(including viruses) that can be isolated from a source in nature andwhich has not been intentionally modified by man in the laboratory orotherwise is naturally-occurring.

The term “operably linked” as used herein refers to positions ofcomponents so described are in a relationship permitting them tofunction in their intended manner. A control sequence “operably linked”to a coding sequence is ligated in such a way that expression of thecoding sequence is achieved under conditions compatible with the controlsequences.

The term “control sequence” as used herein refers to polynucleotidesequences which are necessary to effect the expression and processing ofcoding sequences to which they are ligated. The nature of such controlsequences differs depending upon the host organism in prokaryotes, suchcontrol sequences generally include promoter, ribosomal binding site,and transcription termination sequence in eukaryotes, generally, suchcontrol sequences include promoters and transcription terminationsequence. The term “control sequences” is intended to include, at aminimum, all components whose presence is essential for expression andprocessing, and can also include additional components whose presence isadvantageous, for example, leader sequences and fusion partnersequences. The term “polynucleotide” as referred to herein means apolymeric boron of nucleotides of at least 10 bases in length, eitherribonucleotides or deoxynucleotides or a modified form of either type ofnucleotide. The term includes single and double stranded forms of DNA.

As used herein, the twenty conventional amino acids and theirabbreviations follow conventional usage. See Immunology—A Synthesis (2ndEdition, E. S. Golub and D. R. Gren, Eds., Sinauer Associates,Sunderland Mass. (1991)). Stereoisomers (e.g., D-amino acids) of thetwenty conventional amino acids, unnatural amino acids such as a-,a-disubstituted amino acids, N-alkyl amino acids, lactic acid, and otherunconventional amino acids may also be suitable components forpolypeptides of the present invention. Examples of unconventional aminoacids include: 4 hydroxyproline, γ-carboxyglutamate,ε-N,N,N-trimethyllysine, ε-N-acetylly sine, 0-phosphoserine,N-acetylserine, N-formylmethionine, 3-methylhistidine, 5-hydroxylysine,σ-N-methylarginine, and other similar amino acids and imino acids (e.g.,4-hydroxyproline). In the polypeptide notation used herein, theleft-hand direction is the amino terminal direction and the right-handdirection is the carboxy-terminal direction, in accordance with standardusage and convention.

As applied to polypeptides, the term “substantial identity” means thattwo peptide sequences, when optimally aligned, such as by the programsGAP or BESTFIT using default gap weights, share at least 80 percentsequence identity, preferably at least 90 percent sequence identity,more preferably at least 95 percent sequence identity, and mostpreferably at least 99 percent sequence identity.

Preferably, residue positions which are not identical differ byconservative amino acid substitutions.

Conservative amino acid substitutions refer to the interchangeability ofresidues having similar side chains. For example, a group of amino acidshaving aliphatic side chains is glycine, alanine, valine, leucine, andisoleucine; a group of amino acids having aliphatic-hydroxyl side chainsis serine and threonine; a group of amino acids having amide-containingside chains is asparagine and glutamine; a group of amino acids havingaromatic side chains is phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan; a groupof amino acids having basic side chains is lysine, arginine, andhistidine; and a group of amino acids having sulfur-containing sidechains is cysteine and methionine. Preferred conservative amino acidssubstitution groups are: valine-leucine-isoleucine,phenylalanine-tyrosine, lysine-arginine, alanine valine,glutamic-aspartic, and asparagine-glutamine.

As discussed herein, minor variations in the amino acid sequences ofantibodies or immunoglobulin molecules are contemplated as beingencompassed by the present invention, providing that the variations inthe amino acid sequence maintain at least 75%, more preferably at least80%, 90%, 95%, and most preferably 99%. In particular, conservativeamino acid replacements are contemplated. Conservative replacements arethose that take place within a family of amino acids that are related intheir side chains. Genetically encoded amino acids are generally dividedinto families: (1) acidic amino acids are aspartate, glutamate; (2)basic amino acids are lysine, arginine, histidine; (3) non-polar aminoacids are alanine, valine, leucine, isoleucine, proline, phenylalanine,methionine, tryptophan, and (4) uncharged polar amino acids are glycine,asparagine, glutamine, cysteine, serine, threonine, tyrosine. Thehydrophilic amino acids include arginine, asparagine, aspartate,glutamine, glutamate, histidine, lysine, serine, and threonine. Thehydrophobic amino acids include alanine, cysteine, isoleucine, leucine,methionine, phenylalanine, proline, tryptophan, tyrosine and valine.Other families of amino acids include (i) serine and threonine, whichare the aliphatic-hydroxy family; (ii) asparagine and glutamine, whichare the amide containing family; (iii) alanine, valine, leucine andisoleucine, which are the aliphatic family; and (iv) phenylalanine,tryptophan, and tyrosine, which are the aromatic family. For example, itis reasonable to expect that an isolated replacement of a leucine withan isoleucine or valine, an aspartate with a glutamate, a threonine witha serine, or a similar replacement of an amino acid with a structurallyrelated amino acid will not have a major effect on the binding orproperties of the resulting molecule, especially if the replacement doesnot involve an amino acid within a framework site. Whether an amino acidchange results in a functional peptide can readily be determined byassaying the specific activity of the polypeptide derivative. Assays aredescribed in detail herein. Fragments or analogs of antibodies orimmunoglobulin molecules can be readily prepared by those of ordinaryskill in the art. Preferred amino- and carboxy-termini of fragments oranalogs occur near boundaries of functional domains. Structural andfunctional domains can be identified by comparison of the nucleotideand/or amino acid sequence data to public or proprietary sequencedatabases. Preferably, computerized comparison methods are used toidentify sequence motifs or predicted protein conformation domains thatoccur in other proteins of known structure and/or function. Methods toidentify protein sequences that fold into a known three-dimensionalstructure are known. Bowie et al. Science 253:164 (1991). Thus, theforegoing examples demonstrate that those of skill in the art canrecognize sequence motifs and structural conformations that may be usedto define structural and functional domains in accordance with theinvention.

Preferred amino acid substitutions are those which: (1) reducesusceptibility to proteolysis, (2) reduce susceptibility to oxidation,(3) alter binding affinity for forming protein complexes, (4) alterbinding affinities, and (4) confer or modify other physicochemical orfunctional properties of such analogs. Analogs can include variousmuteins of a sequence other than the naturally-occurring peptidesequence. For example, single or multiple amino acid substitutions(preferably conservative amino acid substitutions) may be made in thenaturally-occurring sequence (preferably in the portion of thepolypeptide outside the domain(s) forming intermolecular contacts. Aconservative amino acid substitution should not substantially change thestructural characteristics of the parent sequence (e.g., a replacementamino acid should not tend to break a helix that occurs in the parentsequence, or disrupt other types of secondary structure thatcharacterizes the parent sequence). Examples of art-recognizedpolypeptide secondary and tertiary structures are described in Proteins,Structures and Molecular Principles (Creighton, Ed., W. H. Freeman andCompany, New York (1984)); Introduction to Protein Structure (C. Brandenand J. Tooze, eds., Garland Publishing, New York, N.Y. (1991)); andThornton et at. Nature 354:105 (1991).

As used herein, the terms “label” or “labeled” refers to incorporationof a detectable marker, e.g., by incorporation of a radiolabeled aminoacid or attachment to a polypeptide of biotinyl moieties that can bedetected by marked avidin (e.g., streptavidin containing a fluorescentmarker or enzymatic activity that can be detected by optical orcalorimetric methods). In certain situations, the label or marker canalso be therapeutic. Various methods of labeling polypeptides andglycoproteins are known in the art and may be used. Examples of labelsfor polypeptides include, but are not limited to, the following:radioisotopes or radionuclides (e.g., ³H, ¹⁴C, ¹⁵N, ³⁵S, ⁹⁰Y, ⁹⁹Tc,¹¹¹In, ¹²⁵I, ¹³¹I) fluorescent labels (e.g., FITC, rhodamine, lanthanidephosphors), enzymatic labels (e.g., horseradish peroxidase,p-galactosidase, luciferase, alkaline phosphatase), chemiluminescent,biotinyl groups, predetermined polypeptide epitopes recognized by asecondary reporter (e.g., leucine zipper pair sequences, binding sitesfor secondary antibodies, metal binding domains, epitope tags). In someembodiments, labels are attached by spacer arms of various lengths toreduce potential steric hindrance. The term “pharmaceutical agent ordrug” as used herein refers to a chemical compound or compositioncapable of inducing a desired therapeutic effect when properlyadministered to a patient.

Other chemistry terms herein are used according to conventional usage inthe art, as exemplified by The McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Chemical Terms(Parker, S., Ed., McGraw-Hill, San Francisco (1985)).

As used herein, “substantially pure” means an object species is thepredominant species present (i.e., on a molar basis it is more abundantthan any other individual species in the composition), and preferably asubstantially purified fraction is a composition wherein the objectspecies comprises at least about 50 percent (on a molar basis) of allmacromolecular species present.

Generally, a substantially pure composition will comprise more thanabout 80 percent of all macromolecular species present in thecomposition, more preferably more than about 85%, 90%, 95%, and 99%.Most preferably, the object species is purified to essential homogeneity(contaminant species cannot be detected in the composition byconventional detection methods) wherein the composition consistsessentially of a single macromolecular species.

The term patient includes human and veterinary subjects.

Antibodies

The anti-TLR4 antibodies provided herein recognize human and/orcynomolgus monkey TLR4/MD-2 receptor expressed on the cell surface. Theantibodies are capable of blocking, e.g., neutralizing, receptoractivation and subsequent intracellular signaling induced TLR4 ligands,e.g., LPS. Antibodies of the invention include antibodies that bindhuman and cynomolgus monkey TLR4/MD-2 receptor complex and also bindTLR4 independently of the presence of MD-2.

The anti-TLR4 antibodies described herein are antibodies that include atleast one specific amino acid substitution in the gamma heavy chainconstant region such that the anti-TLR4 antibody elicits alterations inantigen-dependent effector function while retaining binding to antigenas compared to an unaltered antibody. In a preferred embodiment of theanti-TLR4 antibodies, the EU amino acid position 325 of the gamma heavychain constant region is substituted with serine, and EU amino acidposition 328 of the gamma heavy chain constant region is substitutedwith phenylalanine, such that the EU positions 325 to 328 of the gammaheavy chain constant region of the altered human IgG1 antibody comprisethe amino acid sequence SKAF (SEQ ID NO: 42).

In one embodiment, the anti-TLR4 antibodies that recognize human andcynomolgus TLR4/MD2 complex have the ability to inhibit LPS-inducedproinflammatory cytokine production. Inhibition is determined, forexample, in the human whole blood and huTLR4/MD2 transfected HEK 293cellular assays such as those described in PCT Publication Nos. WO2005/065015 and WO 2007/110678.

Also included in the invention are antibodies that bind to the sameepitope as the anti-TLR4 antibodies described herein. For example,anti-TLR4 antibodies of the invention specifically bind a human and/orcynomolgus TLR4/MD-2 complex, wherein the antibody binds to an epitopethat includes one or more amino acid residues on human and/or cynomolgusmonkey TLR4 between residues 289 and 375 of SEQ ID NO: 23 (human) andSEQ ID NO: 24 (cynomolgus). For example, TLR4 antibodies specificallybinds to an epitope that includes residues selected from the groupconsisting of at least residues 328 and 329 of SEQ ID NO: 23 (human) andSEQ ID NO: 24 (cynomolgus); at least residues 349 through 351 of SEQ IDNO: 23 (human) and SEQ ID NO: 24 (cynomolgus); and at least residues 369through 371 of SEQ ID NO: 23 (human) and SEQ ID NO: 24 (cynomolgus).

Various procedures known within the art may be used for the productionof polyclonal or monoclonal antibodies directed against a given target,such as, for example, a toll-like receptor, the human and/or cynomolgusTLR4/MD-2 complex, or TLR4 when not complexed to MD-2, or againstderivatives, fragments, analogs homologs or orthologs thereof. (See, forexample, Antibodies: A Laboratory Manual, Harlow E, and Lane D, 1988,Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y.,incorporated herein by reference).

Antibodies are purified by well-known techniques, such as affinitychromatography using protein A or protein G, which provide primarily theIgG fraction of immune serum. Subsequently, or alternatively, thespecific antigen which is the target of the immunoglobulin sought, or anepitope thereof, may be immobilized on a column to purify the immunespecific antibody by immunoaffinity chromatography. Purification ofimmunoglobulins is discussed, for example, by D. Wilkinson (TheScientist, published by The Scientist, Inc., Philadelphia Pa., Vol. 14,No. 8 (Apr. 17, 2000), pp. 25-28).

Preferably, the anti-TLR4 antibodies of the invention are monoclonalantibodies. Monoclonal anti-TLR4 antibodies are generated, e.g., byusing the procedures set forth in PCT Publication Nos. WO 2005/065015,WO 2007/110678 and/or WO 2009/101479. Anti-TLR4 antibodies aregenerated, for example, by using the procedures set forth in theExamples provided herein. Anti-TLR4 antibodies are also generated, e.g.,by immunizing BALB/c mice with combinations of cell transfectantsexpressing high levels of a given target on their surface. Hybridomasresulting from myeloma/B cell fusions are then screened for reactivityto the selected target.

Monoclonal antibodies are prepared, for example, using hybridomamethods, such as those described by Kohler and Milstein, Nature, 256:495(1975). In a hybridoma method, a mouse, hamster, or other appropriatehost animal, is typically immunized with an immunizing agent to elicitlymphocytes that produce or are capable of producing antibodies thatwill specifically bind to the immunizing agent. Alternatively, thelymphocytes can be immunized in vitro.

The immunizing agent will typically include the protein antigen, afragment thereof or a fusion protein thereof. Generally, eitherperipheral blood lymphocytes are used if cells of human origin aredesired, or spleen cells or lymph node cells are used if non-humanmammalian sources are desired. The lymphocytes are then fused with animmortalized cell line using a suitable fusing agent, such aspolyethylene glycol, to form a hybridoma cell (Goding, MonoclonalAntibodies: Principles and Practice, Academic Press, (1986) pp. 59-103).Immortalized cell lines are usually transformed mammalian cells,particularly myeloma cells of rodent, bovine and human origin. Usually,rat or mouse myeloma cell lines are employed. The hybridoma cells can becultured in a suitable culture medium that preferably contains one ormore substances that inhibit the growth or survival of the unfused,immortalized cells. For example, if the parental cells lack the enzymehypoxanthine guanine phosphoribosyl transferase (HGPRT or HPRT), theculture medium for the hybridomas typically will include hypoxanthine,aminopterin, and thymidine (“HAT medium”), which substances prevent thegrowth of HGPRT-deficient cells.

Preferred immortalized cell lines are those that fuse efficiently,support stable high level expression of antibody by the selectedantibody-producing cells, and are sensitive to a medium such as HATmedium. More preferred immortalized cell lines are murine myeloma lines,which can be obtained, for instance, from the Salk Institute CellDistribution Center, San Diego, Calif. and the American Type CultureCollection, Manassas, Va. Human myeloma and mouse-human heteromyelomacell lines also have been described for the production of monoclonalantibodies. (See Kozbor, J. Immunol., 133:3001 (1984); Brodeur et al.,Monoclonal Antibody Production Techniques and Applications, MarcelDekker, Inc., New York, (1987) pp. 51-63)).

The culture medium in which the hybridoma cells are cultured can then beassayed for the presence of monoclonal antibodies directed against theantigen. Preferably, the binding specificity of monoclonal antibodiesproduced by the hybridoma cells is determined by immunoprecipitation orby an in vitro binding assay, such as radioimmunoassay (RIA) orenzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay (ELISA). Such techniques and assaysare known in the art. The binding affinity of the monoclonal antibodycan, for example, be determined by the Scatchard analysis of Munson andPollard, Anal. Biochem., 107:220 (1980). Moreover, in therapeuticapplications of monoclonal antibodies, it is important to identifyantibodies having a high degree of specificity and a high bindingaffinity for the target antigen.

After the desired hybridoma cells are identified, the clones can besubcloned by limiting dilution procedures and grown by standard methods.(See Goding, Monoclonal Antibodies: Principles and Practice, AcademicPress, (1986) pp. 59-103). Suitable culture media for this purposeinclude, for example, Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's Medium and RPMI-1640medium. Alternatively, the hybridoma cells can be grown in vivo asascites in a mammal.

The monoclonal antibodies secreted by the subclones can be isolated orpurified from the culture medium or ascites fluid by conventionalimmunoglobulin purification procedures such as, for example, proteinA-Sepharose, hydroxylapatite chromatography, gel electrophoresis,dialysis, or affinity chromatography.

Monoclonal antibodies can also be made by recombinant DNA methods, suchas those described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,816,567. DNA encoding themonoclonal antibodies of the invention can be readily isolated andsequenced using conventional procedures (e.g., by using oligonucleotideprobes that are capable of binding specifically to genes encoding theheavy and light chains of murine antibodies). The hybridoma cells of theinvention serve as a preferred source of such DNA. Once isolated, theDNA can be placed into expression vectors, which are then transfectedinto host cells such as simian COS cells, Chinese hamster ovary (CHO)cells, or myeloma cells that do not otherwise produce immunoglobulinprotein, to obtain the synthesis of monoclonal antibodies in therecombinant host cells. The DNA also can be modified, for example, bysubstituting the coding sequence for human heavy and light chainconstant domains in place of the homologous murine sequences (see U.S.Pat. No. 4,816,567; Morrison, Nature 368, 812-13 (1994)) or bycovalently joining to the immunoglobulin coding sequence all or part ofthe coding sequence for a non-immunoglobulin polypeptide. Such anon-immunoglobulin polypeptide can be substituted for the constantdomains of an antibody of the invention, or can be substituted for thevariable domains of one antigen-combining site of an antibody of theinvention to create a chimeric bivalent antibody.

Monoclonal antibodies of the invention include humanized antibodies orhuman antibodies. These antibodies are suitable for administration tohumans without engendering an immune response by the human against theadministered immunoglobulin. Humanized forms of antibodies are chimericimmunoglobulins, immunoglobulin chains or fragments thereof (such as Fv,Fab, Fab′, F(ab′)2 or other antigen-binding subsequences of antibodies)that are principally comprised of the sequence of a humanimmunoglobulin, and contain minimal sequence derived from a non-humanimmunoglobulin. Humanization is performed, e.g., by following the methodof Winter and co-workers (Jones et al., Nature, 321:522-525 (1986);Riechmann et al., Nature, 332:323-327 (1988); Verhoeyen et al., Science,239:1534-1536 (1988)), by substituting rodent CDRs or CDR sequences forthe corresponding sequences of a human antibody. (See also U.S. Pat. No.5,225,539). In some instances, Fv framework residues of the humanimmunoglobulin are replaced by corresponding non-human residues.Humanized antibodies also comprise, e.g., residues which are foundneither in the recipient antibody nor in the imported CDR or frameworksequences. In general, the humanized antibody includes substantially allof at least one, and typically two, variable domains, in which all orsubstantially all of the CDR regions correspond to those of a non-humanimmunoglobulin and all or substantially all of the framework regions arethose of a human immunoglobulin consensus sequence. The humanizedantibody optimally also includes at least a portion of an immunoglobulinconstant region (Fc), typically that of a human immunoglobulin (Jones etal., 1986; Riechmann et al., 1988; and Presta, Curr. Op. Struct. Biol.,2:593-596 (1992)).

Fully human antibodies are antibody molecules in which the entiresequence of both the light chain and the heavy chain, including theCDRs, arise from human genes. Such antibodies are termed “humanantibodies”, or “fully human antibodies” herein. Monoclonal antibodiescan be prepared by using trioma technique; the human B-cell hybridomatechnique (see Kozbor, et al., 1983 Immunol Today 4: 72); and the EBVhybridoma technique to produce monoclonal antibodies (see Cole, et al.,1985 In: MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES AND CANCER THERAPY, Alan R. Liss, Inc.,pp. 77-96). Monoclonal antibodies may be utilized and may be produced byusing human hybridomas (see Cote, et al., 1983. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA80: 2026-2030) or by transforming human B-cells with Epstein Barr Virusin vitro (see Cole, et al., 1985 In: MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES AND CANCERTHERAPY, Alan R. Liss, Inc., pp. 77-96).

In addition, human antibodies can also be produced using additionaltechniques, including phage display libraries. (See Hoogenboom andWinter, J. Mol. Biol., 227:381 (1991); Marks et al., J. Mol. Biol.,222:581 (1991)). Similarly, human antibodies can be made by introducinghuman immunoglobulin loci into transgenic animals, e.g., mice in whichthe endogenous immunoglobulin genes have been partially or completelyinactivated. Upon challenge, human antibody production is observed,which closely resembles that seen in humans in all respects, includinggene rearrangement, assembly, and antibody repertoire. This approach isdescribed, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,545,807; 5,545,806;5,569,825; 5,625,126; 5,633,425; 5,661,016, and in Marks et al.,Bio/Technology 10, 779-783 (1992); Lonberg et al., Nature 368 856-859(1994); Morrison, Nature 368, 812-13 (1994); Fishwild et al, NatureBiotechnology 14, 845-51 (1996); Neuberger, Nature Biotechnology 14, 826(1996); and Lonberg and Huszar, Intern. Rev. Immunol. 13 65-93 (1995).

Human antibodies may additionally be produced using transgenic nonhumananimals which are modified so as to produce fully human antibodiesrather than the animal's endogenous antibodies in response to challengeby an antigen. (See PCT publication WO94/02602). The endogenous genesencoding the heavy and light immunoglobulin chains in the nonhuman hosthave been incapacitated, and active loci encoding human heavy and lightchain immunoglobulins are inserted into the host's genome. The humangenes are incorporated, for example, using yeast artificial chromosomescontaining the requisite human DNA segments. An animal which providesall the desired modifications is then obtained as progeny bycrossbreeding intermediate transgenic animals containing fewer than thefull complement of the modifications. An example of such a nonhumananimal is a mouse termed the Xenomouse™ as disclosed in PCT publicationsWO 96/33735 and WO 96/34096. This animal produces B cells which secretefully human immunoglobulins. The antibodies can be obtained directlyfrom the animal after immunization with an immunogen of interest, as,for example, a preparation of a polyclonal antibody, or alternativelyfrom immortalized B cells derived from the animal, such as hybridomasproducing monoclonal antibodies. Additionally, the genes encoding theimmunoglobulins with human variable regions can be recovered andexpressed to obtain the antibodies directly, or can be further modifiedto obtain analogs of antibodies such as, for example, single chain Fv(scFv) molecules.

An example of a method of producing a nonhuman host, exemplified as amouse, lacking expression of an endogenous immunoglobulin heavy chain isdisclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,939,598. It can be obtained by a method,which includes deleting the J segment genes from at least one endogenousheavy chain locus in an embryonic stem cell to prevent rearrangement ofthe locus and to prevent formation of a transcript of a rearrangedimmunoglobulin heavy chain locus, the deletion being effected by atargeting vector containing a gene encoding a selectable marker; andproducing from the embryonic stem cell a transgenic mouse whose somaticand germ cells contain the gene encoding the selectable marker.

One method for producing an antibody of interest, such as a humanantibody, is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,916,771. This method includesintroducing an expression vector that contains a nucleotide sequenceencoding a heavy chain into one mammalian host cell in culture,introducing an expression vector containing a nucleotide sequenceencoding a light chain into another mammalian host cell, and fusing thetwo cells to form a hybrid cell. The hybrid cell expresses an antibodycontaining the heavy chain and the light chain.

In a further improvement on this procedure, a method for identifying aclinically relevant epitope on an immunogen and a correlative method forselecting an antibody that binds specifically to the relevant epitopewith high affinity are disclosed in PCT publication WO 99/53049.

The antibody can be expressed by a vector containing a DNA segmentencoding the single chain antibody described above.

These can include vectors, liposomes, naked DNA, adjuvant-assisted DNA.gene gun, catheters, etc. Vectors include chemical conjugates such asdescribed in WO 93/64701, which has targeting moiety (e.g., a ligand toa cellular surface receptor), and a nucleic acid binding moiety (e.g.,polylysine), viral vector (e.g., a DNA or RNA viral vector), fusionproteins such as described in PCT/US 95/02140 (WO 95/22618) which is afusion protein containing a target moiety (e.g., an antibody specificfor a target cell) and a nucleic acid binding moiety (e.g., aprotamine), plasmids, phage, etc. The vectors can be chromosomal,non-chromosomal or synthetic.

Preferred vectors include viral vectors, fusion proteins and chemicalconjugates. Retroviral vectors include moloney murine leukemia viruses.DNA viral vectors are preferred. These vectors include pox vectors suchas orthopox or avipox vectors, herpesvirus vectors such as a herpessimplex I virus (HSV) vector (see Geller, A. I. et al., J. Neurochem,64:487 (1995); Lim, F., et al., in DNA Cloning: Mammalian Systems, D.Glover, Ed. (Oxford Univ. Press, Oxford England) (1995); Geller, A. I.et al., Proc Natl. Acad. Sci.: U.S.A. 90:7603 (1993); Geller, A. I., etal., Proc Natl. Acad. Sci USA 87:1149 (1990), Adenovirus Vectors (seeLeGal LaSalle et al., Science, 259:988 (1993); Davidson, et al., Nat.Genet 3:219 (1993); Yang, et al., J. Virol. 69:2004 (1995) andAdeno-associated Virus Vectors (see Kaplitt, M. G. et al., Nat. Genet.8:148 (1994).

Pox viral vectors introduce the gene into the cells cytoplasm. Avipoxvirus vectors result in only a short term expression of the nucleicacid. Adenovirus vectors, adeno-associated virus vectors and herpessimplex virus (HSV) vectors are preferred for introducing the nucleicacid into neural cells. The adenovirus vector results in a shorter termexpression (about 2 months) than adeno-associated virus (about 4months), which in turn is shorter than HSV vectors. The particularvector chosen will depend upon the target cell and the condition beingtreated. The introduction can be by standard techniques, e.g.,infection, transfection, transduction or transformation. Examples ofmodes of gene transfer include e.g., naked DNA, CaPO₄ precipitation,DEAE dextran, electroporation, protoplast fusion, lipofection, cellmicroinjection, and viral vectors.

The vector can be employed to target essentially any desired targetcell. For example, stereotaxic injection can be used to direct thevectors (e.g., adenovirus, HSV) to a desired location. Additionally, theparticles can be delivered by intracerebroventricular (icy) infusionusing a minipump infusion system, such as a SynchroMed Infusion System.A method based on bulk flow, termed convection, has also proveneffective at delivering large molecules to extended areas of the brainand may be useful in delivering the vector to the target cell. (See Boboet al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 91:2076-2080 (1994); Morrison et al.,Am. J. Physiol. 266:292-305 (1994)). Other methods that can be usedinclude catheters, intravenous, parenteral, intraperitoneal andsubcutaneous injection, and oral or other known routes ofadministration.

Bispecific antibodies are antibodies that have binding specificities forat least two different antigens. In the present case, one of the bindingspecificities is for a target such as TLR4, MD2, human and/or cynomolgusTLR4/MD2 complex or any fragment thereof. The second binding target isany other antigen, and advantageously is a cell-surface protein orreceptor or receptor subunit.

Methods for making bispecific antibodies are known in the art.Traditionally, the recombinant production of bispecific antibodies isbased on the co-expression of two immunoglobulin heavy-chain/light-chainpairs, where the two heavy chains have different specificities (Milsteinand Cuello, Nature, 305:537-539 (1983)). Because of the randomassortment of immunoglobulin heavy and light chains, these hybridomas(quadromas) produce a potential mixture of ten different antibodymolecules, of which only one has the correct bispecific structure. Thepurification of the correct molecule is usually accomplished by affinitychromatography steps. Similar procedures are disclosed in WO 93/08829,published 13 May 1993, and in Traunecker et al., EMBO J., 10:3655-3659(1991).

Antibody variable domains with the desired binding specificities(antibody-antigen combining sites) can be fused to immunoglobulinconstant domain sequences. The fusion preferably is with animmunoglobulin heavy-chain constant domain, comprising at least part ofthe hinge, CH2, and CH3 regions. It is preferred to have the firstheavy-chain constant region (CH1) containing the site necessary forlight-chain binding present in at least one of the fusions. DNAsencoding the immunoglobulin heavy-chain fusions and, if desired, theimmunoglobulin light chain, are inserted into separate expressionvectors, and are co-transfected into a suitable host organism. Forfurther details of generating bispecific antibodies see, for example,Suresh et al., Methods in Enzymology, 121:210 (1986).

According to another approach described in WO 96/27011, the interfacebetween a pair of antibody molecules can be engineered to maximize thepercentage of heterodimers which are recovered from recombinant cellculture. The preferred interface includes at least a part of the CH3region of an antibody constant domain. In this method, one or more smallamino acid side chains from the interface of the first antibody moleculeare replaced with larger side chains (e.g., tyrosine or tryptophan).Compensatory “cavities” of identical or similar size to the large sidechain(s) are created on the interface of the second antibody molecule byreplacing large amino acid side chains with smaller ones (e.g., alanineor threonine). This provides a mechanism for increasing the yield of theheterodimer over other unwanted end-products such as homodimers.

Techniques for generating bispecific antibodies from antibody fragmentshave been described in the literature. For example, bispecificantibodies can be prepared using chemical linkage. The bispecificantibodies produced can be used as agents for the selectiveimmobilization of enzymes.

Various techniques for making and isolating bispecific antibodyfragments directly from recombinant cell culture have also beendescribed. For example, bispecific antibodies have been produced usingleucine zippers. Kostelny et al., J. Immunol. 148(5):1547-1553 (1992).The leucine zipper peptides from the Fos and Jun proteins were linked tothe Fab′ portions of two different antibodies by gene fusion. Theantibody homodimers were reduced at the hinge region to form monomersand then re-oxidized to form the antibody heterodimers. This method canalso be utilized for the production of antibody homodimers. The“diabody” technology described by Hollinger et al., Proc. Natl. Acad.Sci. USA 90:6444-6448 (1993) has provided an alternative mechanism formaking bispecific antibody fragments. The fragments comprise aheavy-chain variable domain (VH) connected to a light-chain variabledomain (VL) by a linker which is too short to allow pairing between thetwo domains on the same chain. Accordingly, the VH and VL domains of onefragment are forced to pair with the complementary VL and VH domains ofanother fragment, thereby forming two antigen-binding sites. Anotherstrategy for making bispecific antibody fragments by the use ofsingle-chain Fv (sFv) dimers has also been reported. See, Gruber et al.,J. Immunol. 152:5368 (1994).

Antibodies with more than two valencies are contemplated. For example,trispecific antibodies can be prepared. Tutt et al., J. Immunol. 147:60(1991).

Exemplary bispecific antibodies can bind to two different epitopes, atleast one of which originates in the protein antigen of the invention.Alternatively, an anti-antigenic arm of an immunoglobulin molecule canbe combined with an arm which binds to a triggering molecule on aleukocyte such as a T-cell receptor molecule (e.g., CD2, CD3, CD28, orB7), or Fc receptors for IgG (FcγR), such as FcγRI (CD64), FcγRII (CD32)and FcγRIII (CD16) so as to focus cellular defense mechanisms to thecell expressing the particular antigen. Bispecific antibodies can alsobe used to direct cytotoxic agents to cells which express a particularantigen. These antibodies possess an antigen-binding arm and an armwhich binds a cytotoxic agent or a radionuclide chelator, such asEOTUBE, DPTA, DOTA, or TETA. Another bispecific antibody of interestbinds the protein antigen described herein and further binds tissuefactor (TF).

Heteroconjugate antibodies are also within the scope of the presentinvention. Heteroconjugate antibodies are composed of two covalentlyjoined antibodies. Such antibodies have, for example, been proposed totarget immune system cells to unwanted cells (see U.S. Pat. No.4,676,980), and for treatment of HIV infection (see WO 91/00360; WO92/200373; EP 03089). It is contemplated that the antibodies can beprepared in vitro using known methods in synthetic protein chemistry,including those involving crosslinking agents. For example, immunotoxinscan be constructed using a disulfide exchange reaction or by forming athioether bond. Examples of suitable reagents for this purpose includeiminothiolate and methyl-4-mercaptobutyrimidate and those disclosed, forexample, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,676,980.

It can be desirable to modify the antibody of the invention with respectto effector function, so as to enhance, e.g., the effectiveness of theantibody in treating diseases and disorders associated with aberrant LPSsignaling. For example, cysteine residue(s) can be introduced into theFc region, thereby allowing interchain disulfide bond formation in thisregion. The homodimeric antibody thus generated can have improvedinternalization capability and/or increased complement-mediated cellkilling and antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC). (See Caronet al., J. Exp Med., 176: 1191-1195 (1992) and Shopes, J. Immunol., 148:2918-2922 (1992)). Alternatively, an antibody can be engineered that hasdual Fc regions and can thereby have enhanced complement lysis and ADCCcapabilities. (See Stevenson et al., Anti-Cancer Drug Design, 3: 219-230(1989)).

The invention also pertains to immunoconjugates comprising an antibodyconjugated to a cytotoxic agent such as a toxin (e.g., an enzymaticallyactive toxin of bacterial, fungal, plant, or animal origin, or fragmentsthereof), or a radioactive isotope (i.e., a radioconjugate).

, Enzymatically active toxins and fragments thereof that can be usedinclude diphtheria A chain, nonbinding active fragments of diphtheriatoxin, exotoxin A chain (from Pseudomonas aeruginosa), ricin A chain,abrin A chain, modeccin A chain, alpha-sarcin, Aleurites fordiiproteins, dianthin proteins, Phytolaca americana proteins (PAPI, PAPII,and PAP-S), Momordica charantia inhibitor, curcin, crotin, Sapaonariaofficinalis inhibitor, gelonin, mitogellin, restrictocin, phenomycin,enomycin, and the tricothecenes. A variety of radionuclides areavailable for the production of radioconjugated antibodies. Examplesinclude ²¹²Bi, ¹³¹I, ¹³¹In, ⁹⁰Y, and ¹⁸⁶Re.

Conjugates of the antibody and cytotoxic agent are made using a varietyof bifunctional protein-coupling agents such asN-succinimidyl-3-(2-pyridyldithiol) propionate (SPDP), iminothiolane(IT), bifunctional derivatives of imidoesters (such as dimethyladipimidate HCL), active esters (such as disuccinimidyl suberate),aldehydes (such as glutareldehyde), bis-azido compounds (such as bis(p-azidobenzoyl) hexanediamine), bis-diazonium derivatives (such asbis-(p-diazoniumbenzoyl)-ethylenediamine), diisocyanates (such astolyene 2,6-diisocyanate), and bis-active fluorine compounds (such as1,5-difluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene). For example, a ricin immunotoxin canbe prepared as described in Vitetta et al., Science 238: 1098 (1987).Carbon-14-labeled 1-isothiocyanatobenzyl-3-methyldiethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (MX-DTPA) is an exemplary chelating agent forconjugation of radionucleotide to the antibody. (See WO94/11026).

Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that a large varietyof possible moieties can be coupled to the resultant antibodies of theinvention. (See, for example, “Conjugate Vaccines”, Contributions toMicrobiology and Immunology, J. M. Cruse and R. E. Lewis, Jr (eds),Carger Press, New York, (1989), the entire contents of which areincorporated herein by reference).

Coupling may be accomplished by any chemical reaction that will bind thetwo molecules so long as the antibody and the other moiety retain theirrespective activities. This linkage can include many chemicalmechanisms, for instance covalent binding, affinity binding,intercalation, coordinate binding and complexation. The preferredbinding is, however, covalent binding. Covalent binding can be achievedeither by direct condensation of existing side chains or by theincorporation of external bridging molecules. Many bivalent orpolyvalent linking agents are useful in coupling protein molecules, suchas the antibodies of the present invention, to other molecules. Forexample, representative coupling agents can include organic compoundssuch as thioesters, carbodiimides, succinimide esters, diisocyanates,glutaraldehyde, diazobenzenes and hexamethylene diamines. This listingis not intended to be exhaustive of the various classes of couplingagents known in the art but, rather, is exemplary of the more commoncoupling agents. (See Killen and Lindstrom, Jour. Immun. 133:1335-2549(1984); Jansen et al., Immunological Reviews 62:185-216 (1982); andVitetta et al., Science 238:1098 (1987).

Preferred linkers are described in the literature. (See, for example,Ramakrishnan, S. et al., Cancer Res. 44:201-208 (1984) describing use ofMBS (M-maleimidobenzoyl-N-hydroxysuccinimide ester). See also, U.S. Pat.No. 5,030,719, describing use of halogenated acetyl hydrazide derivativecoupled to an antibody by way of an oligopeptide linker. Particularlypreferred linkers include: (i) EDC (1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylamino-propyl)carbodiimide hydrochloride; (ii) SMPT(4-succinimidyloxycarbonyl-alpha-methyl-alpha-(2-pridyl-dithio)-toluene(Pierce Chem. Co., Cat. (21558G); (iii) SPDP (succinimidyl-6[3-(2-pyridyldithio) propionamido]hexanoate (Pierce Chem. Co., Cat#21651G); (iv) Sulfo-LC-SPDP (sulfosuccinimidyl 6[3-(2-pyridyldithio)-propianamide] hexanoate (Pierce Chem. Co. Cat.#2165-G); and (v) sulfo-NHS (N-hydroxysulfo-succinimide: Pierce Chem.Co., Cat. #24510) conjugated to EDC.

The linkers described above contain components that have differentattributes, thus leading to conjugates with differing physio-chemicalproperties. For example, sulfo-NHS esters of alkyl carboxylates are morestable than sulfo-NHS esters of aromatic carboxylates. NETS-estercontaining linkers are less soluble than sulfo-NHS esters. Further, thelinker SMPT contains a sterically hindered disulfide bond, and can formconjugates with increased stability. Disulfide linkages, are in general,less stable than other linkages because the disulfide linkage is cleavedin vitro, resulting in less conjugate available. Sulfo-NHS, inparticular, can enhance the stability of carbodimide couplings.Carbodimide couplings (such as EDC) when used in conjunction withsulfo-NHS, forms esters that are more resistant to hydrolysis than thecarbodimide coupling reaction alone.

The antibodies disclosed herein can also be formulated asimmunoliposomes. Liposomes containing the antibody are prepared bymethods known in the art, such as described in Epstein et al., Proc.Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 82: 3688 (1985); Hwang et al., Proc. Natl Acad.Sci. USA, 77: 4030 (1980); and U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,485,045 and 4,544,545.Liposomes with enhanced circulation time are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.5,013,556.

Particularly useful liposomes can be generated by the reverse-phaseevaporation method with a lipid composition comprisingphosphatidylcholine, cholesterol, and PEG-derivatizedphosphatidylethanolamine (PEG-PE). Liposomes are extruded throughfilters of defined pore size to yield liposomes with the desireddiameter. Fab′ fragments of the antibody of the present invention can beconjugated to the liposomes as described in Martin et al., J. Biol.Chem., 257: 286-288 (1982) via a disulfide-interchange reaction.

Use of Anti-TLR4 Antibodies

It will be appreciated that administration of therapeutic entities inaccordance with the invention will be administered with suitablecarriers, excipients, and other agents that are incorporated intoformulations to provide improved transfer, delivery, tolerance, and thelike. A multitude of appropriate formulations can be found in theformulary known to all pharmaceutical chemists: Remington'sPharmaceutical Sciences (15th ed, Mack Publishing Company, Easton, Pa.(1975)), particularly Chapter 87 by Blaug, Seymour, therein. Theseformulations include, for example, powders, pastes, ointments, jellies,waxes, oils, lipids, lipid (cationic or anionic) containing vesicles(such as Lipofectin™), DNA conjugates, anhydrous absorption pastes,oil-in-water and water-in-oil emulsions, emulsions carbowax(polyethylene glycols of various molecular weights), semi-solid gels,and semi-solid mixtures containing carbowax. Any of the foregoingmixtures may be appropriate in treatments and therapies in accordancewith the present invention, provided that the active ingredient in theformulation is not inactivated by the formulation and the formulation isphysiologically compatible and tolerable with the route ofadministration. See also Baldrick P. “Pharmaceutical excipientdevelopment: the need for preclinical guidance.” Regul. ToxicolPharmacol. 32(2):210-8 (2000), Wang W. “Lyophilization and developmentof solid protein pharmaceuticals.” Int. J. Pharm. 203(1-2):1-60 (2000),Charman WN “Lipids, lipophilic drugs, and oral drug delivery-someemerging concepts.” J Pharm Sci. 89(8):967-78 (2000), Powell et al.“Compendium of excipients for parenteral formulations” PDA J Pharm SciTechnol. 52:238-311 (1998) and the citations therein for additionalinformation related to formulations, excipients and carriers well knownto pharmaceutical chemists.

Therapeutic formulations of the invention, which include an anti-TLR4antibody of the invention, are used to treat or alleviate a symptomassociated with an immune-related disorder. The present invention alsoprovides methods of treating or alleviating a symptom associated with animmune-related disorder. A therapeutic regimen is carried out byidentifying a subject, e.g., a human patient suffering from (or at riskof developing) an immune-related disorder, using standard methods. Forexample, anti-TLR4 antibodies of the invention are useful therapeutictools in the treatment of autoimmune diseases and/or inflammatorydisorders. In certain embodiments, the use of anti-TLR4 antibodies thatmodulate, e.g., inhibit, neutralize, or interfere with, TLR signaling iscontemplated for treating autoimmune diseases and/or inflammatorydisorders.

Autoimmune diseases include, for example, Acquired ImmunodeficiencySyndrome (AIDS, which is a viral disease with an autoimmune component),alopecia areata, ankylosing spondylitis, antiphospholipid syndrome,autoimmune Addison's disease, autoimmune hemolytic anemia, autoimmunehepatitis, autoimmune inner ear disease (AIED), autoimmunelymphoproliferative syndrome (ALPS), autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura(ATP), Behcet's disease, cardiomyopathy, celiac sprue-dermatitishepetiformis; chronic fatigue immune dysfunction syndrome (CFIDS),chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIPD), cicatricialpemphigoid, cold agglutinin disease, crest syndrome, Crohn's disease,Degos' disease, dermatomyositis juvenile, discoid lupus, essential mixedcryoglobulinemia, fibromyalgia-fibromyositis, Graves' disease,Guillain-Barre syndrome, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, idiopathic pulmonaryfibrosis, idiopathic thrombocytopenia purpura (ITP), IgA nephropathy,insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, juvenile chronic arthritis (Still'sdisease), juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, Meniere's disease, mixedconnective tissue disease, multiple sclerosis, myasthenia gravis,pernacious anemia, polyarteritis nodosa, polychondritis, polyglandularsyndromes, polymyalgia rheumatica, polymyositis and dermatomyositis,primary agammaglobulinemia, primary biliary cirrhosis, psoriasis,psoriatic arthritis, Raynaud's phenomena, Reiter's syndrome, rheumaticfever, rheumatoid arthritis, sarcoidosis, scleroderma (progressivesystemic sclerosis (PSS), also known as systemic sclerosis (SS)),Sjogren's syndrome, stiff-man syndrome, systemic lupus erythematosus,Takayasu arteritis, temporal arteritis/giant cell arteritis, ulcerativecolitis, uveitis, vitiligo and Wegener's granulomatosis.

Inflammatory disorders include, for example, chronic and acuteinflammatory disorders. Examples of inflammatory disorders includeAlzheimer's disease, asthma, atopic allergy, allergy, atherosclerosis,bronchial asthma, eczema, glomerulonephritis, graft vs. host disease,hemolytic anemias, osteoarthritis, sepsis, stroke, transplantation oftissue and organs, vasculitis, diabetic retinopathy and ventilatorinduced lung injury.

For example, anti-TLR4 antibodies are useful in the treatment of acuteinflammation and sepsis induced by microbial products (e.g., LPS) andexacerbations arising from this acute inflammation, such as, forexample, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma (see O'Neill,Curr. Opin. Pharmacol. 3: 396-403 (2003), hereby incorporated byreference in its entirety). Such antibodies are also useful in treatingneurodegenerative autoimmune diseases. (Lehnardt et al., Proc. Natl.Acad. Sci. USA 100: 8514-8519(2003), hereby incorporated by reference inits entirety).

In addition, the antibodies of the invention are also useful astherapeutic reagents in the treatment of diseases, such as, for example,osteoarthritis, which are caused by stress, for example, cellularstress, which, in turn, induces endogenous soluble “stress” factors thattrigger TLR4. Endogenous soluble stress factor include e.g., Hsp60 (seeOhashi et al., J. Immunol. 164: 558-561 (2000)) and fibronectin (seeOkamura et al., J. Biol. Chem. 276: 10229-10233 (2001) and heparinsulphate, hyaluronan, gp96, β-Defensin-2 or surfactant protein A (seee.g., Johnson et al., Crit. Rev. Immunol., 23(1-2):15-44 (2003), each ofwhich is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety). Theantibodies of the invention are also useful in the treatment of avariety of disorders associated with stress, such as for example,cellular stress that is associated with subjects and patients placed onrespirators, ventilators and other respiratory-assist devices. Forexample, the antibodies of the invention are useful in the treatment ofventilator-induced lung injury (“VILI”), also referred to asventilation-associated lung injury (“VALI”).

Other disease areas in which inhibiting TLR4 function could bebeneficial include, for example, chronic inflammation (e.g., chronicinflammation associated with allergic conditions and asthma), autoimmunediseases (e.g., inflammatory bowel disorder) and atherosclerosis (seeO'Neill, Curr. Opin. Pharmacol. 3: 396-403 (2003), hereby incorporatedby reference in its entirety).

Symptoms associated with these immune-related disorders include, forexample, inflammation, fever, general malaise, fever, pain, oftenlocalized to the inflamed area, rapid pulse rate, joint pain or aches(arthralgia), rapid breathing or other abnormal breathing patterns,chills, confusion, disorientation, agitation, dizziness, cough, dyspnea,pulmonary infections, cardiac failure, respiratory failure, edema,weight gain, mucopurulent relapses, cachexia, wheezing, headache, andabdominal symptoms such as, for example, abdominal pain, diarrhea orconstipation.

Efficaciousness of treatment is determined in association with any knownmethod for diagnosing or treating the particular immune-relateddisorder. Alleviation of one or more symptoms of the immune-relateddisorder indicates that the antibody confers a clinical benefit.

Methods for the screening of antibodies that possess the desiredspecificity include, but are not limited to, enzyme linked immunosorbentassay (ELISA) and other immunologically mediated techniques known withinthe art.

Antibodies directed against a target such as TLR2, CD14, TLR4, MD2, theTLR4/MD-2 complex or any toll-like receptor (or a fragment thereof) maybe used in methods known within the art relating to the localizationand/or quantitation of these targets, e.g., for use in measuring levelsof these targets within appropriate physiological samples, for use indiagnostic methods, for use in imaging the protein, and the like). In agiven embodiment, antibodies specific any of these targets, orderivative, fragment, analog or homolog thereof, that contain theantibody derived antigen binding domain, are utilized aspharmacologically active compounds (referred to hereinafter as“Therapeutics”).

An anti-TLR4 antibody of the invention can be used to isolate aparticular target using standard techniques, such as immunoaffinity,chromatography or immunoprecipitation. Anti-TLR4 antibodies of theinvention (or a fragment thereof) can be used diagnostically to monitorprotein levels in tissue as part of a clinical testing procedure, e.g.,to determine the efficacy of a given treatment regimen. Detection can befacilitated by coupling (i.e., physically linking) the antibody to adetectable substance. Examples of detectable substances include variousenzymes, prosthetic groups, fluorescent materials, luminescentmaterials, bioluminescent materials, and radioactive materials. Examplesof suitable enzymes include horseradish peroxidase, alkalinephosphatase, β-galactosidase, or acetylcholinesterase; examples ofsuitable prosthetic group complexes include streptavidin/biotin andavidin/biotin; examples of suitable fluorescent materials includeumbelliferone, fluorescein, fluorescein isothiocyanate, rhodamine,dichlorotriazinylamine fluorescein, dansyl chloride or phycoerythrin; anexample of a luminescent material includes luminol; examples ofbioluminescent materials include luciferase, luciferin, and aequorin,and examples of suitable radioactive material include ¹²⁵I, ¹³¹I, ³⁵S or³H.

Antibodies of the invention, including polyclonal, monoclonal, humanizedand fully human antibodies, may be used as therapeutic agents. Suchagents will generally be employed to treat or prevent a disease orpathology associated with aberrant expression or activation of a giventarget in a subject. An antibody preparation, preferably one having highspecificity and high affinity for its target antigen, is administered tothe subject and will generally have an effect due to its binding withthe target. Administration of the antibody may abrogate or inhibit orinterfere with the signaling function of the target. Administration ofthe antibody may abrogate or inhibit or interfere with the binding ofthe target with an endogenous ligand to which it naturally binds. Forexample, the antibody binds to the target and neutralizes LP S-inducedproinflammatory cytokine production.

A therapeutically effective amount of an antibody of the inventionrelates generally to the amount needed to achieve a therapeuticobjective. As noted above, this may be a binding interaction between theantibody and its target antigen that, in certain cases, interferes withthe functioning of the target. The amount required to be administeredwill furthermore depend on the binding affinity of the antibody for itsspecific antigen, and will also depend on the rate at which anadministered antibody is depleted from the free volume other subject towhich it is administered. Common ranges for therapeutically effectivedosing of an antibody or antibody fragment of the invention may be, byway of nonlimiting example, from about 0.1 mg/kg body weight to about 50mg/kg body weight. Common dosing frequencies may range, for example,from twice daily to once a week.

Antibodies or a fragment thereof of the invention can be administeredfor the treatment of a variety of diseases and disorders in the form ofpharmaceutical compositions. Principles and considerations involved inpreparing such compositions, as well as guidance in the choice ofcomponents are provided, for example, in Remington: The Science AndPractice Of Pharmacy 19th ed. (Alfonso R. Gennaro, et al., editors) MackPub. Co., Easton, Pa.: 1995; Drug Absorption Enhancement: Concepts,Possibilities, Limitations, And Trends, Harwood Academic Publishers,Langhorne, Pa., 1994; and Peptide And Protein Drug Delivery (Advances InParenteral Sciences, Vol. 4), 1991, M. Dekker, New York.

Where antibody fragments are used, the smallest inhibitory fragment thatspecifically binds to the binding domain of the target protein ispreferred. For example, based upon the variable-region sequences of anantibody, peptide molecules can be designed that retain the ability tobind the target protein sequence. Such peptides can be synthesizedchemically and/or produced by recombinant DNA technology. (See, e.g.,Marasco et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 90: 7889-7893 (1993)). Theformulation can also contain more than one active compound as necessaryfor the particular indication being treated, preferably those withcomplementary activities that do not adversely affect each other.Alternatively, or in addition, the composition can comprise an agentthat enhances its function, such as, for example, a cytotoxic agent,cytokine, chemotherapeutic agent, or growth-inhibitory agent. Suchmolecules are suitably present in combination in amounts that areeffective for the purpose intended.

The active ingredients can also be entrapped in microcapsules prepared,for example, by coacervation techniques or by interfacialpolymerization, for example, hydroxymethylcellulose orgelatin-microcapsules and poly-(methylmethacrylate) microcapsules,respectively, in colloidal drug delivery systems (for example,liposomes, albumin microspheres, microemulsions, nano-particles, andnanocapsules) or in macroemulsions.

The formulations to be used for in vivo administration must be sterile.This is readily accomplished by filtration through sterile filtrationmembranes.

Sustained-release preparations can be prepared. Suitable examples ofsustained-release preparations include semipermeable matrices of solidhydrophobic polymers containing the antibody, which matrices are in theform of shaped articles, e.g., films, or microcapsules. Examples ofsustained-release matrices include polyesters, hydrogels (for example,poly(2-hydroxyethyl-methacrylate), or poly(vinylalcohol)), polylactides(U.S. Pat. No. 3,773,919), copolymers of L-glutamic acid and γethyl-L-glutamate, non-degradable ethylene-vinyl acetate, degradablelactic acid-glycolic acid copolymers such as the LUPRON DEPOT™(injectable microspheres composed of lactic acid-glycolic acid copolymerand leuprolide acetate), and poly-D-(−)-3-hydroxybutyric acid. Whilepolymers such as ethylene-vinyl acetate and lactic acid-glycolic acidenable release of molecules for over 100 days, certain hydrogels releaseproteins for shorter time periods.

An antibody according to the invention can be used as an agent fordetecting the presence of a given target (or a protein fragment thereof)in a sample. In some embodiments, the antibody contains a detectablelabel. Antibodies are polyclonal, or more preferably, monoclonal. Anintact antibody, or a fragment thereof (e.g., Fab, scFv, or F_((ab)2))is used. The term “labeled”, with regard to the probe or antibody, isintended to encompass direct labeling of the probe or antibody bycoupling (i.e., physically linking) a detectable substance to the probeor antibody, as well as indirect labeling of the probe or antibody byreactivity with another reagent that is directly labeled. Examples ofindirect labeling include detection of a primary antibody using afluorescently-labeled secondary antibody and end-labeling of a DNA probewith biotin such that it can be detected with fluorescently-labeledstreptavidin. The term “biological sample” is intended to includetissues, cells and biological fluids isolated from a subject, as well astissues, cells and fluids present within a subject. Included within theusage of the term “biological sample”, therefore, is blood and afraction or component of blood including blood serum, blood plasma, orlymph. That is, the detection method of the invention can be used todetect an analyte mRNA, protein, or genomic DNA in a biological samplein vitro as well as in vivo. For example, in vitro techniques fordetection of an analyte mRNA include Northern hybridizations and in situhybridizations. In vitro techniques for detection of an analyte proteininclude enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs), Western blots,immunoprecipitations, and immunofluorescence. In vitro techniques fordetection of an analyte genomic DNA include Southern hybridizations.Procedures for conducting immunoassays are described, for example in“ELISA: Theory and Practice: Methods in Molecular Biology”, Vol. 42, J.R. Crowther (Ed.) Human Press, Totowa, N.J., 1995; “Immunoassay”, E.Diamandis and T. Christopoulus, Academic Press, Inc., San Diego, Calif.,1996; and “Practice and Theory of Enzyme Immunoassays”, P. Tijssen,Elsevier Science Publishers, Amsterdam, 1985. Furthermore, in vivotechniques for detection of an analyte protein include introducing intoa subject a labeled anti-analyte protein antibody. For example, theantibody can be labeled with a radioactive marker whose presence andlocation in a subject can be detected by standard imaging techniques.

Pharmaceutical Compositions

The antibodies or soluble chimeric polypeptides of the invention (alsoreferred to herein as “active compounds”), and derivatives, fragments,analogs and homologs thereof, can be incorporated into pharmaceuticalcompositions suitable for administration. Such compositions typicallycomprise the antibody or soluble chimeric polypeptide and apharmaceutically acceptable carrier. As used herein, the term“pharmaceutically acceptable carrier” is intended to include any and allsolvents, dispersion media, coatings, antibacterial and antifungalagents, isotonic and absorption delaying agents, and the like,compatible with pharmaceutical administration. Suitable carriers aredescribed in the most recent edition of Remington's PharmaceuticalSciences, a standard reference text in the field, which is incorporatedherein by reference. Preferred examples of such carriers or diluentsinclude, but are not limited to, water, saline, ringer's solutions,dextrose solution, and 5% human serum albumin. Liposomes and non-aqueousvehicles such as fixed oils may also be used. The use of such media andagents for pharmaceutically active substances is well known in the art.Except insofar as any conventional media or agent is incompatible withthe active compound, use thereof in the compositions is contemplated.Supplementary active compounds can also be incorporated into thecompositions.

A pharmaceutical composition of the invention is formulated to becompatible with its intended route of administration. Examples of routesof administration include parenteral, e.g., intravenous, intradermal,subcutaneous, oral (e.g., inhalation), transdermal (i.e., topical),transmucosal, and rectal administration. Solutions or suspensions usedfor parenteral, intradermal, or subcutaneous application can include thefollowing components: a sterile diluent such as water for injection,saline solution, fixed oils, polyethylene glycols, glycerine, propyleneglycol or other synthetic solvents; antibacterial agents such as benzylalcohol or methyl parabens; antioxidants such as ascorbic acid or sodiumbisulfate; chelating agents such as ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid(EDTA); buffers such as acetates, citrates or phosphates, and agents forthe adjustment of tonicity such as sodium chloride or dextrose. The pHcan be adjusted with acids or bases, such as hydrochloric acid or sodiumhydroxide. The parenteral preparation can be enclosed in ampoules,disposable syringes or multiple dose vials made of glass or plastic.

Pharmaceutical compositions suitable for injectable use include sterileaqueous solutions (where water soluble) or dispersions and sterilepowders for the extemporaneous preparation of sterile injectablesolutions or dispersion. For intravenous administration, suitablecarriers include physiological saline, bacteriostatic water, CremophorEL™ (BASF, Parsippany, N.J.) or phosphate buffered saline (PBS). In allcases, the composition must be sterile and should be fluid to the extentthat easy syringeability exists. It must be stable under the conditionsof manufacture and storage and must be preserved against thecontaminating action of microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi. Thecarrier can be a solvent or dispersion medium containing, for example,water, ethanol, polyol (for example, glycerol, propylene glycol, andliquid polyethylene glycol, and the like), and suitable mixturesthereof. The proper fluidity can be maintained, for example, by the useof a coating such as lecithin, by the maintenance of the requiredparticle size in the case of dispersion and by the use of surfactants.Prevention of the action of microorganisms can be achieved by variousantibacterial and antifungal agents, for example, parabens,chlorobutanol, phenol, ascorbic acid, thimerosal, and the like. In manycases, it will be preferable to include isotonic agents, for example,sugars, polyalcohols such as manitol, sorbitol, sodium chloride in thecomposition. Prolonged absorption of the injectable compositions can bebrought about by including in the composition an agent which delaysabsorption, for example, aluminum monostearate and gelatin.

Sterile injectable solutions can be prepared by incorporating the activecompound in the required amount in an appropriate solvent with one or acombination of ingredients enumerated above, as required, followed byfiltered sterilization. Generally, dispersions are prepared byincorporating the active compound into a sterile vehicle that contains abasic dispersion medium and the required other ingredients from thoseenumerated above. In the case of sterile powders for the preparation ofsterile injectable solutions, methods of preparation are vacuum dryingand freeze-drying that yields a powder of the active ingredient plus anyadditional desired ingredient from a previously sterile-filteredsolution thereof.

Oral compositions generally include an inert diluent or an ediblecarrier. They can be enclosed in gelatin capsules or compressed intotablets. For the purpose of oral therapeutic administration, the activecompound can be incorporated with excipients and used in the form oftablets, troches, or capsules. Oral compositions can also be preparedusing a fluid carrier for use as a mouthwash, wherein the compound inthe fluid carrier is applied orally and swished and expectorated orswallowed. Pharmaceutically compatible binding agents, and/or adjuvantmaterials can be included as part of the composition. The tablets,pills, capsules, troches and the like can contain any of the followingingredients, or compounds of a similar nature: a binder such asmicrocrystalline cellulose, gum tragacanth or gelatin; an excipient suchas starch or lactose, a disintegrating agent such as alginic acid,Primogel, or corn starch; a lubricant such as magnesium stearate orSterotes; a glidant such as colloidal silicon dioxide; a sweeteningagent such as sucrose or saccharin; or a flavoring agent such aspeppermint, methyl salicylate, or orange flavoring.

For administration by inhalation, the compounds are delivered in theform of an aerosol spray from pressured container or dispenser whichcontains a suitable propellant, e.g., a gas such as carbon dioxide, or anebulizer.

Systemic administration can also be by transmucosal or transdermalmeans. For transmucosal or transdermal administration, penetrantsappropriate to the barrier to be permeated are used in the formulation.Such penetrants are generally known in the art, and include, forexample, for transmucosal administration, detergents, bile salts, andfusidic acid derivatives. Transmucosal administration can beaccomplished through the use of nasal sprays or suppositories. Fortransdermal administration, the active compounds are formulated intoointments, salves, gels, or creams as generally known in the art.

The compounds can also be prepared in the form of suppositories (e.g.,with conventional suppository bases such as cocoa butter and otherglycerides) or retention enemas for rectal delivery.

In one embodiment, the active compounds are prepared with carriers thatwill protect the compound against rapid elimination from the body, suchas a controlled release formulation, including implants andmicroencapsulated delivery systems. Biodegradable, biocompatiblepolymers can be used, such as ethylene vinyl acetate, polyanhydrides,polyglycolic acid, collagen, polyorthoesters, and polylactic acid.Methods for preparation of such formulations will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art. The materials can also be obtained commercially fromAlza Corporation and Nova Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Liposomal suspensions(including liposomes targeted to infected cells with monoclonalantibodies to viral antigens) can also be used as pharmaceuticallyacceptable carriers. These can be prepared according to methods known tothose skilled in the art, for example, as described in U.S. Pat. No.4,522,811.

It is especially advantageous to formulate oral or parenteralcompositions in dosage unit form for ease of administration anduniformity of dosage. Dosage unit form as used herein refers tophysically discrete units suited as unitary dosages for the subject tobe treated; each unit containing a predetermined quantity of activecompound calculated to produce the desired therapeutic effect inassociation with the required pharmaceutical carrier. The specificationfor the dosage unit forms of the invention are dictated by and directlydependent on the unique characteristics of the active compound and theparticular therapeutic effect to be achieved, and the limitationsinherent in the art of compounding such an active compound for thetreatment of individuals.

The pharmaceutical compositions can be included in a container, pack, ordispenser together with instructions for administration.

The invention will be further described in the following examples, whichdo not limit the scope of the invention described in the claims.

EXAMPLES Example 1. Generation of Stable Cynomolgus Monkey TLR4 andHuman TLR4/MD-2 TLR4 Transfectants

Stable cynomolgus monkey TLR4 and human TLR4/MD-2 transfectants weregenerated in CHO-Kl cells based on sequences described below.

>Human TLR4 amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 23)MMSASRLAGTLIPAMAFLSCVRPESWEPCVEVVPNITYQCMELNFYKIPDNLPFSTKNLDLSFNPLRHLGSYSFFSFPELQVLDLSRCEIQTIEDGAYQSLSHLSTLILTGNPIQSLALGAFSGLSSLQKLVAVETNLASLENFPIGHLKTLKELNVAHNLIQSFKLPEYFSNLTNLEHLDLSSNKIQSIYCTDLRVLHQMPLLNLSLDLSLNPMNFIQPGAFKEIRLHKLTLRNNFDSLNVMKTCIQGLAGLEVHRLVLGEFRNEGNLEKFDKSALEGLCNLTIEEFRLAYLDYYLDDIIDLFNCLTNVSSFSLVSVTIERVKDFSYNFGWQHLELVNCKFGQFPTLKLKSLKRLTFTSNKGGNAFSEVDLPSLEFLDLSRNGLSFKGCCSQSDFGTTSLKYLDLSFNGVITMSSNFLGLEQLEHLDFQHSNLKQMSEFSVFLSLRNLIYLDISHTHTRVAFNGIFNGLSSLEVLKMAGNSFQENFLPDIFTELRNLTFLDLSQCQLEQLSPTAFNSLSSLQVLNMSHNNFFSLDTFPYKCLNSLQVLDYSLNHIMTSKKQELQHFPSSLAFLNLTQNDFACTCEHQSFLQWIKDQRQLLVEVERMECATPSDKQGMPVLSLNITCQMNKTIIGVSVLSVLVVSVVAVLVYKFYFHLMLLAGCIKYGRGENIYDAFVIYSSQDEDWVRNELVKNLEEGVPPFQLCLHYRDFIPGVAIAANIIHEGFHKSRKVIVVVSQHFIQSRWCIFEYEIAQTWQFLSSRAGIIFIVLQKVEKTLLRQQVELYRLLSRNTYLEWEDSVLGRHIFWRRLRKALLDGKSWNPEGTVGTGCNWQEATSI >Cynomolgus monkey TLR4 amino acid sequence 1(SEQ ID NO: 24) MTSALRLAGTLIPAMAFLSCVRPESWEPCVEVVPNITYQCMELKFYKIPDNIPFSTKNLDLSFNPLRHLGSYSFLRFPELQVLDLSRCEIQTIEDGAYQSLSHLSTLILTGNPIQSLALGAFSGLSSLQKLVAVETNLASLENFPIGHLKTLKELNVAHNLIQSFKLPEYFSNLTNLEHLDLSSNKIQNIYCKDLQVLHQMPLSNLSLDLSLNPINFIQPGAFKEIRLHKLTLRSNFDDLNVMKTCIQGLAGLEVHRLVLGEFRNERNLEEFDKSSLEGLCNLTIEEFRLTYLDCYLDNIIDLFNCLANVSSFSLVSVNIKRVEDFSYNFRWQHLELVNCKFEQFPTLELKSLKRLTFTANKGGNAFSEVDLPSLEFLDLSRNGLSFKGCCSQSDFGTTSLKYLDLSFNDVITMSSNFLGLEQLEHLDFQHSNLKQMSQFSVFLSLRNLIYLDISHTHTRVAFNGIFDGLLSLKVLKMAGNSFQENFLPDIFTDLKNLTFLDLSQCQLEQLSPTAFDTLNKLQVLNMSHNNFFSLDTFPYKCLPSLQVLDYSLNHIMTSNNQELQHFPSSLAFLNLTQNDFACTCEHQSFLQWIKDQRQLLVEAERMECATPSDKQGMPVLSLNITCQMNKTIIGVSVFSVLVVSVVAVLVYKFYFHLMLLAGCIKYGRGENIYDAFVIYSSQDEDWVRNELVKNLEEGVPPFQLCLHYRDFIPGVAIAANIIHEGFHKSRKVIVVVSQHFIQSRWCIFEYEIAQTWQFLSSRAGIIFIVLQKVEKTLLRQQVELYRLLSRNTYLEWEDSVLGQHIFWRRLRKALLDGKSWNPEEQ

For CHO-Kl cells, human TLR4 eDNA encoding an N-terminal c-Myc epitopetag and cynomolgus monkey TLR4 cDNA were cloned into pCDNA3.1(−) hygro(Invitrogen), and human MD-2 cDNA encoding C-terminal c-Myc and ProteinC epitope tags was cloned into pCDNA3 (Invitrogen). Human TLR4 and HumanMD2 constructs were co-transfected into CHO cells using Fugene 6™reagent (Roche), according to the manufacturer's guidelines. Antibioticresistant cells were selected in culture medium containing 500m/mL G418and 250m/mL hygromycin B (both from Invitrogen). Cynomolgus monkey TLR4construct was transfected into CHO cells using Fugene 6™ reagent(Roche), according to the manufacturer's guideline and cultured asdescribed above.

To select for cells expressing the human TLR4/MD-2 complex or cynomolgusmonkey TLR4, 1×10⁷ CHO cells/mL were incubated in 1×PBS supplementedwith 1% BSA and either 10 μg/mL anti-protein C monoclonal antibody(Roche) or 10 μg/mL anti-TLR4 protein 106 monoclonal antibody (NovImmuneSA). Cells were washed once and then incubated in the same buffer withPE-conjugated goat anti-mouse IgG (H+L) antibody (1:200 dilution;Anwara). Cells were subsequently incubated with anti-PE microbeads(Miltenyi Biotec) and passed through a Midi MACS LS column. Cellsretained on the column were eluted and placed back in culture withantibiotic selection. Rounds of sorting were continued until uniformlypositive populations of cells expressing the human TLR4/MD-2 complex andcynomolgus monkey TLR4 were obtained.

Example 2. CDRs Randomization of 15C1 Antibody and Cell SurfaceSelections

The humanized anti-TLR4 antibody 15C1 (as described in U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/151,916, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 7,674,884,shown herein as SEQ ID NOs: 43 and 4 below) was subjected to sequencerandomization in order to obtain antibodies binding to cynomolgus monkeyand/or human TLR4 and able to neutralize LPS-induced pro-inflammatorycytokine production mediated by TLR4.

>15C1 VH amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 43)QVQLQESGPGLVKPSDTLSLTCAVSGYSITGGYSWHWIRQPPGKGLEWMGYIHYSGYTDFNPSLKTRITISRDTSKNQFSLKLSSVTAVDTAVYYCARKDPSDAFPYWGQGTLVTVSS >15C1 VL amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 4)EIVLTQSPDFQSVTPKEKVTITCRASQSISDHLHWYQQKPDQSPKLLIKYASHAISGVPSRFSGSGSGTDFTLTINSLEAEDAATYYCQQGHSFPLTFGG GTKVEIK

The V_(H) (SEQ ID NO: 43) and V_(L) (SEQ ID NO: 4) regions of thehumanized 15C1 antibody were cloned into the pNDS vector described inRavn et al. (Nucleic Acids Res. 2010 November; 38(21):e193). Briefly,the VH region was cloned in frame of the PelB leader sequence using aNcoI restriction site in 5 ‘and a Xhol restriction site in 3’. Then, theVL region was inserted in frame of a linker sequence using SalIrestriction enzyme in 5′ and NotI restriction enzyme in 3′ to form aconstruct coding for the 15C1 scFv fused in its C-terminal part to the6×His and c-Myc tags and the pIII protein.

Then, stretches of 5 residues in the CDR3 of the heavy chain (SEQ ID NO:44) or light chain (SEQ ID NO: 48) were randomized in order to generate6 libraries (Library size ranging from 5×10⁷ to 2×10⁸). The differentlibraries generated are shown below in Table 3 and Table 4 where Xrepresents any amino acid.

TABLE 3 15C1 CDRH3 randomization libraries. 15C1 CDRH3 A− −R −K −D −p −s−D A− −F −p −y (SEQ ID NO: 44) LIBRARY 1 A− −R −X −X −X −X −X A− −F p−y− (SEQ ID NO: 45) LIBRARY 2 A− −R −K −D p− −s −X −X −X −X −X (SEQ IDNO: 46) LIBRARY 3 A− −R −K −D −X −X −X −X −X −p −y (SEQ ID NO: 47)

TABLE 4 15C1 CDRL3 randomization libraries. 15C1 CDRL3 Q Q −G −H −s −F−p −L −T (SEQ ID NO: 48) LIBRARY 4 Q Q −X −X −X −X −X −L −T (SEQ ID NO:49) LIBRARY 5 Q Q −G −H −X −X −X −X −X (SEQ ID NO: 50) LIBRARY 6 Q Q −X−X −X −X −p −X −T (SEQ ID NO: 51)

Five selection rounds were performed using these libraries and screeningfor variants with desired activities was performed using scFvperiplasmic extracts. Briefly, aliquots of 15C1 modified scFv phagelibraries (1012 Pfu) were blocked with PBS containing 3% (w/v) skimmedmilk for one hour at room temperature on a rotary mixer. Blocked phageswere then deselected for one hour at 37° C./5% CO2 on CHO cells (in aT75 flask 80% confluence) that had been previously blocked with PBScontaining 2% (w/v) skimmed milk. Deselected phages were then incubatedon CHO cells expressing cynomolgus monkey TLR4 for three hours at roomtemperature with gentle shaking. Cells were then washed ten times withPBS. Bound phages were eluted by adding 1 mL of 75 mM citric acidfollowed by neutralization with 280 μl of Tris-HCl pH 9. Then, 10 mL ofexponentially growing TG1 were added to the T75 flask and incubating forone hour at 37° C. with slow shaking. An aliquot of the infected TG1 wasserial diluted to titer the selection output. Infected TG1 were spun at3000 rpm for 15 minutes and re-suspended in 0.5 mL 2×TY-AG (2×TY mediacontaining 100 μg/mL ampicilin and 2% glucose) and spread on 2×TYAG agarBioassay plates. After overnight incubation at 30° C. 10 mL of 2×TYAGwas added to the plates and the cells were scraped form the surface andtransferred to a 50 mL polypropylene tube. 2×TYAG containing 50%glycerol was added to the cell suspension to obtain a finalconcentration of 17% glycerol. Aliquots of the selection round were keptat −80° C.

Example 3. Screening of 15C1 scFv Variants

General procedures for construction and handling of human scFv librariesare described in Vaughan et al., (Nat. Biotech. 1996, 14:309-314),hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. Libraries of 15C1 scFvvariants were screened against cynomolgus monkey TLR4 according to thefollowing procedure.

ScFv Periplasmic Preparation for Screening

After five rounds of selections on CHO cells expressing cynomolgusmonkey TLR4 at the membrane, single clones were picked into a deep wellmicrotiter plate containing 0.9 mL of 2×TYAG media (0.1% glucose) perwell and grown at 37° C. for 5-6h (250 rpm). 100 μl per well of 0.2 mMIPTG in 2×TY medium were then added to give a final concentration of0.02 mM IPTG. Plates were then incubated overnight at 30° C. withshaking at 250 rpm. The deep-well plates were centrifuged at 2,500 rpmfor 10 min and the supernatant carefully removed. The pellets werere-suspended in 150 μl TES buffer (50 mM Tris/HCl (pH 8), 1 mM EDTA (pH8), 20% sucrose, complemented with Complete protease inhibitor, Roche).A hypotonic shock was produced by adding 150 μl of diluted TES buffer(1:5 TES:water dilution) and incubation on ice for 30 min. Plates werethen centrifuged at 4000 rpm for 10 minutes to remove cells and debris.The supernatants were carefully transferred into another microtiterplate and kept on ice for immediate testing in screening assays

Monoclonal Phage Preparation for Screening

Single clones were picked into a microtiter plate containing 150 μl of2×TYAG media (2% glucose) per well and grown at 37° C. (100-120 rpm) for5-6h. M13K07 helper phage was added to each well to obtain amultiplicity of infection (MOI) of 10 (i.e., 10 phage for each cell inthe culture) and incubated at 37° C. (100 rpm) for 1 h. Followinggrowth, plates were centrifuged at 3,200 rpm for 10 min. Supernatant wascarefully removed, cells re-suspended in 150 μl 2×TYAK medium and grownovernight at 30° C. (120 rpm). The plates were then centrifuged 10minutes at 3000 rpm and the phage containing supernatant was thenconcentrated by PEG precipitation. Briefly, phages were precipitated byadding ⅓ volume of cold PEG 8000 20%, NaCl 2.5M to the phage containingsupernatant. The mix was incubated on ice for 1h and then centrifuged 15min 8000 rpm at 4° C. The phage pellet was re-suspended in 500 μl of TEbuffer.

ScFv Screening

In brief, CHO-K1 cells and stably transfected CHO-K1 expressingcynomolgus monkey TLR4 were distributed into FMAT® 384-well opticalplates (Applied Biosystems) at a density of 5,000 cells per well (in 50μl of DMEM F12, 10% FCS, 2 mM Gln), 24 hours before the screening assay.At day 0, cells were mixed with a small volume of scFv periplasmicpreparation (40 μl per well) and 10 μl of Penta-His Alexa Fluor 647conjugate (1:200 dilution, QIAGEN). After an incubation period of 1 to 8hours, the fluorescence of the cells was measured in an 8200 CellularDetection System analyzer (Applied Biosystems). ScFv clones binding toCHO-K1 expressing cynomolgus monkey TLR4 but not to wt CHO-K1 cells wereretained and subjected to further analyses. Selected clones were the1A1, 1A6, 1B12, 1C7, 1C10, 1C12, 1D10, 1E11 and 1G12.

Monoclonal Phage Binding to Cynomolgus Monkey and Human TLR4

105 CHO cells or CHO cells expressing the cynomolgus monkey TLR4 wereincubated in phosphate-buffered saline, 2% bovine serum albumin withdifferent concentrations of precipitated monoclonal phages expressingscFvs selected by FMAT (1A1, 1A6, 1B12, 1C7, 1C10, 1C12, 1D10, 1E11,1G12). As control, the parent 15C1 scFv was also expressed as monoclonalphage for binding test. Cells were then washed and incubated in the samebuffer with monoclonal antibody to M13, fd, F1 filamentous phages-FITC(1:50; Acris antibodies). Cells were finally analyzed using a FACScalibur cytometer (BD Biosciences). FIG. 1 shows FACS analysis of thesecells following antibody staining, which revealed that 1A1, 1A6, 1B12,1C7, 1C10, 1C12, 1D10, 1E11 and 1G12 recognized cells expressingcynomolgus monkey TLR4 alone, contrary to 15C1 which doesn't bind tothese cells. Moreover, these results suggest that the tested scFvs arespecific of the cynomolgus monkey TLR4 protein as they did not bind tothe native CHO cells.

Similarly, 105 CHO cells or CHO cells expressing the human TLR4/MD2complex were incubated in phosphate-buffered saline, 2% bovine serumalbumin with different concentrations of the precipitated monoclonalphages expressing scFvs as described above. FIG. 2 shows FACS analysisof these cells following antibody staining, which revealed that 1E11recognized cells expressing human TLR4/MD2 complex, similarly to 15C1but not 1A1, 1A6, 1B12, 1C7, 1C10, 1C12, 1D10 and 1G12. These resultssuggest that 1A1, 1A6, 1B12, 1C7, 1C10, 1C12, 1D10 and 1G12 scFvs arespecific of cynomolgus monkey TLR4 and that 1E11 is cross-reactive forhuman and cynomolgus monkey TLR4.

Example 4. Reformatting scFv into IgG Format and IgG Binding toCynomolgus Monkey and Human TLR4

Reformatting, Production and Purification

The VH and VL sequence of selected scFvs (1A1, 1A6, 1B12, 1C7, 1C10,1C12, 1D10, 1E11, 1G12) were amplified with specific oligonucleotidesintroducing a leader sequence at the 5′ end. The amplified VH and VLsequences were cloned into mammalian expression vector in frame withhuman IgG1 constant and Kappa constant domains, respectively. Theconstructions were verified by sequencing before transfection intomammalian cells.

The VH and VL cDNA sequences in their appropriate expression vectorswere transfected into mammalian cells using the Fugene 6 TransfectionReagent (Roche, Basel, Switzerland). Briefly, Peak cells were culturedin 6-well plates at a concentration of 6×105 cells per well in 2 mLculture media containing fetal bovine serum. The expression vectors,encoding the candidate VH and VL sequences, were co-transfected into thecells using the Fugene 6 Transfection Reagent according tomanufacturer's instructions. One day following transfection, the culturemedia was aspirated, and 3 mL of fresh serum-free media was added tocells and cultured for three days at 37° C. Following three days cultureperiod, the supernatant was harvested for IgG purified on proteinG-Sepharose 4B fast flow columns (Sigma, St. Louis, Mo.) according tomanufacturer's instructions. Briefly, supernatants from transfectedcells were incubated overnight at 4° C. with ImmunoPure (G) IgG bindingbuffer (Pierce, Rockford Ill.). Samples were then passed over ProteinG-Sepharose 4B fast flow columns and the IgG consequently purified usingelution buffer. The eluted IgG fraction was then dialyzed against PBSand the IgG content quantified by absorption at 280 nm. Purity and IgGintegrity were verified by SDS-PAGE.

The nucleic acid and amino acid sequences of the IgG1 reformatted 1E11antibody is shown below:

>1E11 Heavy Chain Amino Acid Sequence (SEQ ID NO: 40)QVQLQESGPGLVKPSDTLSLTCAVSGYSITGGYSWHWIRQPPGKGLEWMGYIHYSGYTDFNPSLKTRITISRDTSKNQFSLKLSSVTAVDTAVYYCARKDSGNYFPYWGQGTLVTVSSASTKGPSVFPLAPSSKSTSGGTAALGCLVKDYFPEPVTVSWNSGALTSGVHTFPAVLQSSGLYSLSSVVTVPSSSLGTQTYICNVNHKPSNTKVDKRVEPKSCDKTHTCPPCPAPELLGGPSVFLFPPKPKDTLMISRTPEVTCVVVDVSHEDPEVKFNWYVDGVEVHNAKTKPREEQYNSTYRVVSVLTVLHQDWLNGKEYKCKVSNKALPAPIEKTISKAKGQPREPQVYTLPPSREEMTKNQVSLTCLVKGFYPSDIAVEWESNGQPENNYKTTPPVLDSDGSFFLYSKLTVDKSRWQQGNVFSCSVMHEALHNHYTQKSLSLSPG >1E11 Light Chain Amino Acid Sequence(SEQ ID NO: 41) EIVLTQSPDFQSVTPKEKVTITCRASQSISDHLHWYQQKPDQSPKLLIKYASHAISGVPSRFSGSGSGTDFTLTINSLEAEDAATYYCQQGHSFPLTFGGGTKVEIKRTVAAPSVFIFPPSDEQLKSGTASVVCLLNNFYPREAKVQWKVDNALQSGNSQESVTEQDSKDSTYSLSSTLTLSKADYEKHKVYACEVTHQGLSSPVTKSFNRGEC >1E11 Light Chain Nucleic Acid Sequence (SEQ ID NO: 52)ATGAGTGTGCCCACTCAGGTCCTGGGGTTGCTGCTGCTGTGGCTTACAGATGCCAGATGTGAAATTGTGTTGACGCAGTCTCCAGACTTTCAGTCTGTGACTCCAAAGGAAAAAGTCACCATCACCTGCAGGGCCAGTCAGAGTATCAGCGACCACTTACACTGGTACCAACAGAAACCTGATCAGTCTCCCAAGCTCCTCATCAAATATGCTTCCCATGCCATTTCTGGGGTCCCATCGAGGTTCAGTGGCAGTGGGTCTGGGACAGACTTCACTCTCACCATCAATAGCCTAGAGGCTGAAGATGCTGCAACGTATTACTGTCAGCAGGGTCACAGTTTTCCGCTCACTTTCGGCGGAGGGACCAAGGTGGAGATCAAACGTACGGTGGCTGCACCATCTGTCTTCATCTTCCCGCCATCTGATGAGCAGTTGAAATCTGGAACTGCCTCTGTTGTGTGCCTGCTGAATAACTTCTATCCCAGAGAGGCCAAAGTACAGTGGAAGGTGGATAACGCCCTCCAATCGGGTAACTCCCAGGAGAGTGTCACAGAGCAGGACAGCAAGGACAGCACCTACAGCCTCAGCAGCACCCTGACGCTGAGCAAAGCAGACTACGAGAAACACAAAGTCTACGCCTGCGAAGTCACCCATCAGGGCCTGAGCTCGCCCGTCACAAAGAGCTTCAACAGGGGAGAGTGTTAA >1E11 Heavy Chain Nucleic Acid Sequence (SEQ ID NO: 53)ATGGAATGGAGCTGGGTCTTTCTCTTCTTCCTGTCAGTAACTACAGGTGTCCACCAGGTGCAGCTTCAGGAGTCCGGCCCAGGACTGGTGAAGCCTTCGGACACCCTGTCCCTCACCTGCGCTGTCTCTGGTTACTCCATCACCGGTGGTTATAGCTGGCACTGGATACGGCAGCCCCCAGGGAAGGGACTGGAGTGGATGGGGTATATCCACTACAGTGGTTACACTGACTTCAACCCCTCCCTCAAGACTCGAATCACCATATCACGTGACACGTCCAAGAACCAGTTCTCCCTGAAGCTGAGCTCTGTGACCGCTGTGGACACTGCAGTGTATTACTGTGCGAGAAAAGATCCGTCCGACGCCTTTCCTTACTGGGGCCAAGGGACTCTGGTCACTGTCTCTTCCGCCTCCACCAAGGGCCCATCGGTCTTCCCCCTGGCACCCTCCTCCAAGAGCACCTCTGGGGGCACAGCGGCCCTGGGCTGCCTGGTCAAGGACTACTTCCCCGAACCGGTGACAGTCTCGTGGAACTCAGGAGCCCTGACCAGCGGCGTGCACACCTTCCCGGCTGTCCTACAGTCCTCAGGACTCTACTCCCTCAGCAGCGTGGTGACTGTGCCCTCCAGCAGCTTGGGCACCCAGACCTACATCTGCAACGTGAATCACAAGCCCAGCAACACCAAGGTGGACAAGAGAGTTGAGCCCAAATCTTGTGACAAAACTCACACATGCCCACCGTGCCCAGCACCTGAACTCCTGGGGGGACCGTCAGTCTTCCTCTTCCCCCCAAAACCCAAGGACACCCTCATGATCTCCCGGACCCCTGAGGTCACATGCGTGGTGGTGGACGTGAGCCACGAAGACCCTGAGGTCAAGTTCAACTGGTACGTGGACGGCGTGGAGGTGCATAATGCCAAGACAAAGCCGCGGGAGGAGCAGTACAACAGCACGTACCGTGTGGTCAGCGTCCTCACCGTCCTGCACCAGGACTGGCTGAATGGCAAGGAGTACAAGTGCAAGGTCTCCAACAAAGCCCTCCCAGCCCCCATCGAGAAAACCATCTCCAAAGCCAAAGGGCAGCCCCGAGAACCACAGGTGTATACCCTGCCCCCATCTCGGGAGGAGATGACCAAGAACCAGGTCAGCCTGACTTGCCTGGTCAAAGGCTTCTATCCCAGCGACATCGCCGTGGAGTGGGAGAGCAACGGGCAGCCGGAGAACAACTACAAGACCACGCCTCCCGTGCTGGACTCCGACGGCTCCTTCTTCCTCTATAGCAAGCTCACCGTGGACAAGTCCAGGTGGCAGCAGGGGAACGTCTTCTCATGCTCCGTGATGCATGAGGCTCTGCACAACCACTACACGCAGAAGAGCCTCTCCCTGTCTCCGGGTTAA

Monoclonal Antibody Binding to Cynomolgus Monkey and Human TLR4

10⁵ CHO cells or CHO cells expressing the cynomolgus monkey TLR4 wereincubated in phosphate-buffered saline, 2% bovine serum albumin withdifferent concentrations of purified antibodies selected by FMAT (1A1,1A6, 1B12, 1C7, 1C10, 1C12, 1D10, 1E11, 1G12) with 15C1 as control.Cells were washed in phosphate-buffered saline, 2% bovine serum albuminand incubated in Alexa Fluor® 647 goat anti human IgG (H+L) (1:200;Invitrogen). Cells were analyzed using a FACS calibur cytometer (BDBiosciences). FIG. 3 shows FACS analysis of these cells followingantibody staining, which revealed that 1A1, 1A6, 1B12, 1C7, 1C10, 1C12,1D10, 1E11 and 1G12 Mabs recognized cells expressing cynomolgus monkeyTLR4 alone, contrary to 15C1 which doesn't bind to these cells.Moreover, these results confirm that these antibodies were specific ofthe TLR4 protein as they did not bind to the native CHO cells.

Similar experiments were conducted with CHO cells or CHO cellsexpressing the human TLR4/MD2 complex. FIG. 4 shows FACS analysis ofthese cells following antibody staining, which revealed that 1E11 Mabrecognized cells expressing human TLR4/MD2 complex, similarly to 15C1Mab but that 1A1, 1A6, 1B12, 1C7, 1C10, 1D10 and 1G12 Mabs are unable tobind to the human protein. 1C12 Mab was also able to bind to human TLR4but with a lower potency compared to 1E11 and 15C1 Mabs. These resultsconfirm that 1E11 and 1C12 are cross-reactive monoclonal antibodies ableto bind to both human and cynomolgus monkey TLR4 alone or in complexwith MD2. These results also confirm that that 1A1, 1A6, 1B12, 1C7,1C10, 1D10 and 1G12 are specific anti-cynomolgus monkey TLR4 monoclonalantibodies.

Example 5. Analysis of Paratope-Epitope Specificity Between Anti-TLR4Antibodies and TLR4

FIG. 5 shows an illustration of the antibody paratope/TLR4 epitopepotential amino acid contact which determines the antibody/TLR4specificities. The Human TLR4 and the cynomolgus monkey TLR4 have onlyone different amino acid into the regions known to be important for thebinding (see Irene Dunne-Siegrist et al. J Biol Chem, 2007 Nov. 30;282(48):34817-27). Effectively, the human TLR4 has a lysine (positivelycharged amino acid) at the position 349 whereas the cynomolgus monkeyTLR4 has a glutamic acid (negatively charged amino acid) at thisposition. These results suggest that a salt bridge occurs between theamino acid 103 of the heavy chain of the selected antibodies and theamino acid 349 of TLR4. Moreover, the cross reactive antibodies (1E11and 1C12) have an asparagine or a glutamine at the position 103 whichmay serve both as hydrogen donor to glutamic acid and hydrogen acceptorto lysine. These specific amino acids may allow antibody crossreactivity to both the human and cynomolgus monkey TLR4.

Site directed mutagenesis was performed at position 103 in the 1E11antibody to introduce the N103D mutation. Vector containing the verifiedVH sequence of 1E11 N103D was then co-transfected with VL sequence intomammalian cells using the Fugene 6 Transfection Reagent (Roche, Basel,Switzerland) as described previously. Then, 10⁵ CHO cells or CHO cellsexpressing the cynomolgus monkey TLR4 were incubated inphosphate-buffered saline, 2% bovine serum albumin with differentconcentrations of purified antibodies (1E11 and 1E11 N103D). Cells werewashed in phosphate-buffered saline, 2% bovine serum albumin andincubated in Alexa Fluor® 647 goat anti human IgG (H+L) (1:200;Invitrogen) and were finally analyzed using a FACS calibur cytometer (BDBiosciences). FIG. 6 shows the results of the analysis of these cellsfollowing antibody staining, which revealed that 1E11 and 1E11 N103DMabs recognized cells expressing cynomolgus monkey TLR4 alone. However,binding of 1E11 N103D Mab to cynomolgus monkey is significantly lowercompared to 1E11. Similarly, 10⁵ CHO cells or CHO cells expressing thehuman TLR4/MD2 complex were incubated in phosphate-buffered saline, 2%bovine serum albumin with different concentrations of purifiedantibodies (1E11 and 1E11 N103D) and then binding of antibodies to thesecells were monitored by FACS. FIG. 7 represents FACS analysis of thesecells following antibody staining, which revealed that 1E11 and 1E11N103D Mabs both recognized cells expressing humanTLR4 with the samepotency. Taken together, these results suggest that position 103 iscrucial for the binding of 1E11 to human and cynomolgus monkey TLR4.More precisely, these data indicate that a CDRH3 motif could be designedin order to induce species cross-reactivity of an anti TLR4 antibody.

TABLE 5 Cross-reactivity of anti-TLR4 antibodies.CDRH3 motif = CARKDSG [N, Q, D] [Y, L]FPY (SEQ ID NO: 54) Clone IDHeavy CDR3 Species specificity 1A1 ARKDSGRLLPY (SEQ ID Cynomolgus monkeyNO: 28) 1A6 ARKDSGKWLPY (SEQ ID NO: 29) 1612 ARKDSGHLMPY (SEQ ID NO: 30)1C7 ARKDSGHNYPY (SEQ ID NO: 31) 1C10 ARKDSGKNFPY (SEQ ID NO: 32) 1G12ARKDSGRYWPY (SEQ ID NO: 36) 1D10 ARKDSGHNLPY (SEQ ID NO: 34) 15C1ARKDPSDAFPY (SEQ ID Human NO: 44) 1E11 ARKDSGNYFPY (SEQ ID Human andNO: 27) cynomolgus monkey 1E11 ARKDSGDYFPY (SEQ ID N103D NO: 35) 1C12ARKDSGQLFPY (SEQ ID NO: 33)

Example 6. Inhibition of LPS-Induced Downstream Signaling Cascade ofTLR4: NFκB, by Purified Antibodies

THP1-Blue™-CD14 cells (Invivogen), which express human TLR4/MD2 complex,were plated in 96 well plates at 10⁵ cells/well in 30 μl of HEK-Bluedetection medium (Invivogen). TLR4 antibodies were diluted in 30 μl ofmedium to the appropriate concentration and added to the cells for 30min at 37° C. Then, LPS was diluted at 10 ng/mL in 30 μl of medium,added to the cells, and left to incubate 24h at 37° C. The absorbancewas measured at 650 nm using a microplate reader. FIG. 8 shows theresults of the inhibition of LPS-induced downstream signaling cascade ofTLR4 by selected Mabs (1E11, 15C1, 1C12 and 1G12). 1E11 showedinhibition potency of LPS induced TLR4 signaling comparable to 15C1.1C12 showed lower inhibition capacities compared to 1E11 and 1G12 didnot affect the LPS-induced downstream signaling cascade of human TLR4confirming its specificity for cynomolgus monkey TLR4.

Example 7. CDRs Randomization of 1E11 Antibody and Cell SurfaceSelections

The cross-reactive 1E11 antibody sequence (heavy chain sequence of SEQID NO: 40 and light chain sequence of SEQ ID NO: 41) has the samebinding and blocking potency than 15C1. This antibody was subjected tosequence randomization in order to obtain antibodies binding to humanand cynomolgus monkey TLR4 with higher affinity compared to the parentalantibody and 15C1 and able to neutralize LPS-induced pro-inflammatorycytokine production mediated by TLR4.

>1E11 Light Chain Amino Acid Sequence (SEQ ID NO: 41)EIVLTQSPDFQSVTPKEKVTITCRASQSISDHLHWYQQKPDQSPKLLIKYASHAISGVPSRFSGSGSGTDFTLTINSLEAEDAATYYCQQGHSFPLTFGGGTKVEIKRTVAAPSVFIFPPSDEQLKSGTASVVCLLNNFYPREAKVQWKVDNALQSGNSQESVTEQDSKDSTYSLSSTLTLSKADYEKHKVYACEVTHQGLSSPVTKSFNRGEC >1E11 Heavy Chain Amino Acid Sequence (SEQ ID NO: 40)QVQLQESGPGLVKPSDTLSLTCAVSGYSITGGYSWHWIRQPPGKGLEWMGYIHYSGYTDFNPSLKTRITISRDTSKNQFSLKLSSVTAVDTAVYYCARKDSGNYFPYWGQGTLVTVSSASTKGPSVFPLAPSSKSTSGGTAALGCLVKDYFPEPVTVSWNSGALTSGVHTFPAVLQSSGLYSLSSVVTVPSSSLGTQTYICNVNHKPSNTKVDKRVEPKSCDKTHTCPPCPAPELLGGPSVFLFPPKPKDTLMISRTPEVTCVVVDVSHEDPEVKFNWYVDGVEVHNAKTKPREEQYNSTYRVVSVLTVLHQDWLNGKEYKCKVSNKALPAPIEKTISKAKGQPREPQVYTLPPSREEMTKNQVSLTCLVKGFYPSDIAVEWESNGQPENNYKTTPPVLDSDGSFFLYSKLTVDKSRWQQGNVFSCSVMHEALHNHYTQKSLSLSPG  >1E11 Light Chain Nucleic Acid Sequence(SEQ ID NO: 52) ATGAGTGTGCCCACTCAGGTCCTGGGGTTGCTGCTGCTGTGGCTTACAGATGCCAGATGTGAAATTGTGTTGACGCAGTCTCCAGACTTTCAGTCTGTGACTCCAAAGGAAAAAGTCACCATCACCTGCAGGGCCAGTCAGAGTATCAGCGACCACTTACACTGGTACCAACAGAAACCTGATCAGTCTCCCAAGCTCCTCATCAAATATGCTTCCCATGCCATTTCTGGGGTCCCATCGAGGTTCAGTGGCAGTGGGTCTGGGACAGACTTCACTCTCACCATCAATAGCCTAGAGGCTGAAGATGCTGCAACGTATTACTGTCAGCAGGGTCACAGTTTTCCGCTCACTTTCGGCGGAGGGACCAAGGTGGAGATCAAACGTACGGTGGCTGCACCATCTGTCTTCATCTTCCCGCCATCTGATGAGCAGTTGAAATCTGGAACTGCCTCTGTTGTGTGCCTGCTGAATAACTTCTATCCCAGAGAGGCCAAAGTACAGTGGAAGGTGGATAACGCCCTCCAATCGGGTAACTCCCAGGAGAGTGTCACAGAGCAGGACAGCAAGGACAGCACCTACAGCCTCAGCAGCACCCTGACGCTGAGCAAAGCAGACTACGAGAAACACAAAGTCTACGCCTGCGAAGTCACCCATCAGGGCCTGAGCTCGCCCGTCACAAAGAGCTTCAACAGGGGAGAGTGTTAA >1E11 Heavy Chain Nucleic Acid Sequence (SEQ ID NO: 53)ATGGAATGGAGCTGGGTCTTTCTCTTCTTCCTGTCAGTAACTACAGGTGTCCACCAGGTGCAGCTTCAGGAGTCCGGCCCAGGACTGGTGAAGCCTTCGGACACCCTGTCCCTCACCTGCGCTGTCTCTGGTTACTCCATCACCGGTGGTTATAGCTGGCACTGGATACGGCAGCCCCCAGGGAAGGGACTGGAGTGGATGGGGTATATCCACTACAGTGGTTACACTGACTTCAACCCCTCCCTCAAGACTCGAATCACCATATCACGTGACACGTCCAAGAACCAGTTCTCCCTGAAGCTGAGCTCTGTGACCGCTGTGGACACTGCAGTGTATTACTGTGCGAGAAAAGATCCGTCCGACGCCTTTCCTTACTGGGGCCAAGGGACTCTGGTCACTGTCTCTTCCGCCTCCACCAAGGGCCCATCGGTCTTCCCCCTGGCACCCTCCTCCAAGAGCACCTCTGGGGGCACAGCGGCCCTGGGCTGCCTGGTCAAGGACTACTTCCCCGAACCGGTGACAGTCTCGTGGAACTCAGGAGCCCTGACCAGCGGCGTGCACACCTTCCCGGCTGTCCTACAGTCCTCAGGACTCTACTCCCTCAGCAGCGTGGTGACTGTGCCCTCCAGCAGCTTGGGCACCCAGACCTACATCTGCAACGTGAATCACAAGCCCAGCAACACCAAGGTGGACAAGAGAGTTGAGCCCAAATCTTGTGACAAAACTCACACATGCCCACCGTGCCCAGCACCTGAACTCCTGGGGGGACCGTCAGTCTTCCTCTTCCCCCCAAAACCCAAGGACACCCTCATGATCTCCCGGACCCCTGAGGTCACATGCGTGGTGGTGGACGTGAGCCACGAAGACCCTGAGGTCAAGTTCAACTGGTACGTGGACGGCGTGGAGGTGCATAATGCCAAGACAAAGCCGCGGGAGGAGCAGTACAACAGCACGTACCGTGTGGTCAGCGTCCTCACCGTCCTGCACCAGGACTGGCTGAATGGCAAGGAGTACAAGTGCAAGGTCTCCAACAAAGCCCTCCCAGCCCCCATCGAGAAAACCATCTCCAAAGCCAAAGGGCAGCCCCGAGAACCACAGGTGTATACCCTGCCCCCATCTCGGGAGGAGATGACCAAGAACCAGGTCAGCCTGACTTGCCTGGTCAAAGGCTTCTATCCCAGCGACATCGCCGTGGAGTGGGAGAGCAACGGGCAGCCGGAGAACAACTACAAGACCACGCCTCCCGTGCTGGACTCCGACGGCTCCTTCTTCCTCTATAGCAAGCTCACCGTGGACAAGTCCAGGTGGCAGCAGGGGAACGTCTTCTCATGCTCCGTGATGCATGAGGCTCTGCACAACCACTACACGCAGAAGAGCCTCTCCCTGTCTCCGGGTTAA

The V_(H) (SEQ ID NO:1) and V_(L) (SEQ ID NO:2) regions of the 1E11antibody were cloned into the pNDS vector described in Ravn et al.(Nucleic Acids Res. 2010 November; 38(21):e193). Briefly, the V_(H)region was cloned in frame of the PelB leader sequence using a NcoIrestriction site in 5′ and a Xhol restriction site in 3′. Then, theV_(L) region was inserted in frame of a linker sequence using SalIrestriction enzyme in 5′ and NotI restriction enzyme in 3′ to form aconstruct coding for the 15C1 scFv fused in its C-terminal part to the6×His and c-Myc tags and the pIII protein. Then, 5 residues in the CDRH1of the heavy chain (SEQ ID NO: 25) or light chain (SEQ ID NO: 48) wererandomized in order to generate 5 libraries (Library size ranging from5×10′ to 2×10⁸). The different libraries generated are shown below inTable 6 and Table 7 where X represents any amino acid.

TABLE 6 1E11 CDRH1 randomization libraries. 1E11 CDRH1 G Y S I T G G Y(SEQ ID NO: 25) LIBRARY 1 G X X I X X X Y (SEQ ID NO: 104) LIBRARY 2 G YX I X X X X (SEQ ID NO: 105)

TABLE 7 1E11 CDRL3 randomization libraries. 1E11 CDRL3 Q Q G H S F P L T(SEQ ID NO: 48) LIBRARY 3 Q Q X X X X X L T (SEQ ID NO: 49) LIBRARY 4 QQ G H X X X X X (SEQ ID NO: 50) LIBRARY 5 Q Q X X X X P X T (SEQ ID NO:51)

Five selection rounds were performed using these libraries and screeningfor variants with desired activities was performed using scFvperiplasmic extracts. Briefly, aliquots of 1E11 modified scFv phagelibraries (10¹² Pfu) were blocked with PBS containing 3% (w/v) skimmedmilk for one hour at room temperature on a rotary mixer. Blocked phageswere then deselected for one hour at 37° C./5% CO₂ on CHO cells (in aT75 flask 80% confluence) that had been previously blocked with PBScontaining 2% (w/v) skimmed milk. Deselected phages were then mixed withincreasing concentration of 15C1 antibody and incubated on CHO cellsexpressing human TLR4 for three hours at room temperature with gentleshaking. Cells were then washed ten times with PBS. Bound phages wereeluted by adding 1 mL of 75 mM citric acid followed by neutralizationwith 280 μl of Tris-HCl pH 9. Then, 10 mL of exponentially growing TG1were added to the T75 flask and incubating for one hour at 37° C. withslow shaking. An aliquot of the infected TG1 was serial diluted to titerthe selection output. Infected TG1 were spun at 3000 rpm for 15 minutesand re-suspended in 0.5 mL 2×TY-AG (2×TY media containing 100 μg/mLampicilin and 2% glucose) and spread on 2×TYAG agar Bioassay plates.After overnight incubation at 30° C. 10 mL of 2×TYAG was added to theplates and the cells were scraped form the surface and transferred to a50 mL polypropylene tube. 2×TYAG containing 50% glycerol was added tothe cell suspension to obtain a final concentration of 17% glycerol.Aliquots of the selection round were kept at −80° C. After five roundsof selections on CHO cells expressing human TLR4 at the membrane incompetition with 15C1 antibody, 50 single clones were picked into a deepwell microtiter plate containing 0.9 mL of 2×TYAG media (0.1% glucose)per well and grown at 37° C. for 5-6h (250 rpm). Plasmids encoding scFvwere then purified and analyzed by Sanger sequencing.

Example 8. Identification of Affinity Matured Variants of 1E11

Clones isolated after the last round of selection were sequenced andanalyzed. After alignment, sequence consensuses in CDRH1 or CDRL3 wereidentified. Enriched scFv sequences with specific amino acid consensuswere then selected. The 1E11.C1, 1E11.C2, 1E11.C3, 1E11.C4, 1E11.C5 and1E11.C6 scFvs have specific CDRH1 sequences. The 1E11.E1, 1E11.E2,1E11.E3, 1E11.E4 and 1E11.E5 scFvs which have specific CDRL3 sequenceswere also identified. The VH and VL sequence of selected scFvs wereamplified with specific oligonucleotides introducing a leader sequenceat the 5′ end. The amplified VH and VL sequences were cloned intomammalian expression vector in frame with human IgG1 constant and Kappaconstant domains, respectively. The constructions were verified bysequencing before transfection into mammalian cells. The nucleic acidand amino acid sequences of the IgG1 reformatted 1E11.C1 antibody areshown below:

>1E11.C1 Light Chain Amino Acid Sequence (SEQ ID NO: 106)EIVLTQSPDFQSVTPKEKVTITCRASQSISDHLHWYQQKPDQSPKLLIKYASHAISGVPSRFSGSGSGTDFTLTINSLEAEDAATYYCQQGHSFPLTFGGGTKVEIKRTVAAPSVFIFPPSDEQLKSGTASVVCLLNNFYPREAKVQWKVDNALQSGNSQESVTEQDSKDSTYSLSSTLTLSKADYEKHKVYACEVTHQGLSSPVTKSFNRGEC >1E11.C1 Heavy Chain Amino Acid Sequence (SEQ ID NO: 108)QVQLQESGPGLVKPSDTLSLTCAVSGFPIRYGYSWHWIRQPPGKGLEWMGYIHYSGYTDFNPLKTRITISRDTSKNQFSLKLSSVTAVDTAVYYCARKDSGNYFPYWGQGTLVTVSSASTKGPSVFPLAPSSKSTSGGTAALGCLVKDYFPEPVTVSWNSGALTSGVHTFPAVLQSSGLYSLSSVVTVPSSSLGTQTYICNVNHKPSNTKVDKRVEPKSCDKTHTCPPCPAPELLGGPSVFLFPPKPKDTLMISRTPEVTCVVVDVSHEDPEVKFNWYVDGVEVHNAKTKPREEQYNSTYRVVSVLTVLHQDWLNGKEYKCKVSNKALPAPIEKTISKAKGQPREPQVYTLPPSREEMTKNQVSLTCLVKGFYPSDIAVEWESNGQPENNYKTTPPVLDSDGSFFLYSKLTVDKSRWQQGNVFSCSVMHEALHNHYTQKSLSLSPG >1E11.C1 Light Chain Nucleic Acid Sequence(SEQ ID NO: 107) ATGAGTGTGCCCACTCAGGTCCTGGGGTTGCTGCTGCTGTGGCTTACAGATGCCAGATGTGAAATTGTGTTGACGCAGTCTCCAGACTTTCAGTCTGTGACTCCAAAGGAAAAAGTCACCATCACCTGCAGGGCCAGTCAGAGTATCAGCGACCACTTACACTGGTACCAACAGAAACCTGATCAGTCTCCCAAGCTCCTCATCAAATATGCTTCCCATGCCATTTCTGGGGTCCCATCGAGGTTCAGTGGCAGTGGGTCTGGGACAGACTTCACTCTCACCATCAATAGCCTAGAGGCTGAAGATGCTGCAACGTATTACTGTCAGCAGGGTCACAGTTTTCCGCTCACTTTCGGCGGAGGGACCAAGGTGGAGATCAAACGTACGGTGGCTGCACCATCTGTCTTCATCTTCCCGCCATCTGATGAGCAGTTGAAATCTGGAACTGCCTCTGTTGTGTGCCTGCTGAATAACTTCTATCCCAGAGAGGCCAAAGTACAGTGGAAGGTGGATAACGCCCTCCAATCGGGTAACTCCCAGGAGAGTGTCACAGAGCAGGACAGCAAGGACAGCACCTACAGCCTCAGCAGCACCCTGACGCTGAGCAAAGCAGACTACGAGAAACACAAAGTCTACGCCTGCGAAGTCACCCATCAGGGCCTGAGCTCGCCCGTCACAAAGAGCTTCAACAGGGGAGAGTGTTAA >1E11.C1 Heavy Chain Nucleic Acid Sequence (SEQ ID NO: 109)ATGGAATGGAGCTGGGTCTTTCTCTTCTTCCTGTCAGTAACTACAGGTGTCCACCAGGTGCAGCTTCAGGAGTCCGGCCCAGGACTGGTGAAGCCTTCGGACACCCTGTCCCTCACCTGCGCTGTCTCTGGTTTCCCGATCCGCTACGGGTATAGCTGGCACTGGATACGGCAGCCCCCAGGGAAGGGACTGGAGTGGATGGGGTATATCCACTACAGTGGTTACACTGACTTCAACCCCTCCCTCAAGACTCGAATCACCATATCACGTGACACGTCCAAGAACCAGTTCTCCCTGAAGCTGAGCTCTGTGACCGCTGTGGACACTGCAGTGTATTACTGTGCGAGAAAAGATTCGGGCAACTACTTCCCTTACTGGGGCCAAGGGACTCTGGTCACTGTCTCTTCCGCCTCCACCAAGGGCCCATCGGTCTTCCCCCTGGCACCCTCCTCCAAGAGCACCTCTGGGGGCACAGCGGCCCTGGGCTGCCTGGTCAAGGACTACTTCCCCGAACCGGTGACAGTCTCGTGGAACTCAGGAGCCCTGACCAGCGGCGTGCACACCTTCCCGGCTGTCCTACAGTCCTCAGGACTCTACTCCCTCAGCAGCGTGGTGACTGTGCCCTCCAGCAGCTTGGGCACCCAGACCTACATCTGCAACGTGAATCACAAGCCCAGCAACACCAAGGTGGACAAGAGAGTTGAGCCCAAATCTTGTGACAAAACTCACACATGCCCACCGTGCCCAGCACCTGAACTCCTGGGGGGACCGTCAGTCTTCCTCTTCCCCCCAAAACCCAAGGACACCCTCATGATCTCCCGGACCCCTGAGGTCACATGCGTGGTGGTGGACGTGAGCCACGAAGACCCTGAGGTCAAGTTCAACTGGTACGTGGACGGCGTGGAGGTGCATAATGCCAAGACAAAGCCGCGGGAGGAGCAGTACAACAGCACGTACCGTGTGGTCAGCGTCCTCACCGTCCTGCACCAGGACTGGCTGAATGGCAAGGAGTACAAGTGCAAGGTCTCCAACAAAGCCCTCCCAGCCCCCATCGAGAAAACCATCTCCAAAGCCAAAGGGCAGCCCCGAGAACCACAGGTGTATACCCTGCCCCCATCTCGGGAGGAGATGACCAAGAACCAGGTCAGCCTGACTTGCCTGGTCAAAGGCTTCTATCCCAGCGACATCGCCGTGGAGTGGGAGAGCAACGGGCAGCCGGAGAACAACTACAAGACCACGCCTCCCGTGCTGGACTCCGACGGCTCCTTCTTCCTCTATAGCAAGCTCACCGTGGACAAGTCCAGGTGGCAGCAGGGGAACGTCTTCTCATGCTCCGTGATGCATGAGGCTCTGCACAACCACTACACGCAGAAGAGCCTCTCCCTGTCTCCGGGTTAA

The V_(H) and V_(L) cDNA sequences in their appropriate expressionvectors were transfected into mammalian cells using the Fugene 6Transfection Reagent (Roche, Basel, Switzerland). Briefly, Peak cellswere cultured in 6-well plates at a concentration of 6×10⁵ cells perwell in 2 mL culture media containing fetal bovine serum. The expressionvectors, encoding the candidate V_(H) and V_(L) sequences, wereco-transfected into the cells using the Fugene 6 Transfection Reagentaccording to manufacturer's instructions. One day followingtransfection, the culture media was aspirated, and 3 mL of freshserum-free media was added to cells and cultured for three days at 37°C. Following three days culture period, the supernatant was harvestedfor IgG purified on protein G-Sepharose 4B fast flow columns (Sigma, St.Louis, Mo.) according to manufacturer's instructions. Briefly,supernatants from transfected cells were incubated overnight at 4° C.with ImmunoPure (G) IgG binding buffer (Pierce, Rockford Ill.). Sampleswere then passed over Protein G-Sepharose 4B fast flow columns and theIgG consequently purified using elution buffer. The eluted IgG fractionwas then dialyzed against PBS and the IgG content quantified byabsorption at 280 nm. Purity and IgG integrity were verified bySDS-PAGE. Relative binding potency of 1E11 variants was assessed bycompetitive ELISA. Briefly, 15C1 antibody was coated overnight in a96-well Maxisorp plate and then blocked with PBS-BSA. The 15C1 referenceantibody and affinity matured variants of 1E11 were added to the plateat a fixed concentration and a 3.5-fold serial dilution of the sampleswas performed. Then, soluble histidine-tagged form of human TLR4/MD2complex was added to the plate at a fixed concentration. Afterincubation one hour at 37° C., the plate was washed and a solution ofPenta-His-HRP antibody was distributed, this step was followed by anadditional incubation time of one hour at 37° C. Finally, the plate waswashed and TMB was added for colorimetric revelation, the enzymaticreaction is stopped by H₂SO₄ solution. The results were determinedaccording to the absorbance at 450 nm. The relative binding potency wascalculated by dividing the reference EC₅₀ with affinity matured variantsEC₅₀ (Table 8).

All selected Mabs with mutations in their CDRH1 (1E11.C1, 1E11.C2,1E11.C3, 1E11.C4, 1E11.C5, 1E11.C6) were positive for binding human TLR4with relative binding potency ranging from 3 to 17 fold-increasecompared to the parental antibody 15C1 (FIG. 9 and Table 8). SelectedMabs with mutations in their CDRL3 (1E11.E1, 1E11.E2, 1E11.E3, 1E11.E4and 1E11.E5) were also positive for binding human TLR4 with relativebinding potency ranging from 2 to 5 fold-increase compared to theparental antibody 15C1 (FIG. 10 and Table 8).

To test for an additive binding effect by combining heavy and lightchain variants, the 1E11.C2 variant with modified CDRH1, which had thehighest binding potency, was chosen. The heavy chain of this variant wasassociated with the light chain of the 1E11.E1, 1E11.E3, 1E11.E4 and1E11.E5 which were modified in the CDRL3. The 1E11.C2 VH region wascloned with the VL of 1E11.E1, 1E11.E3, 1E11.E4 and 1E11.E5 intomammalian expression vectors as described above. After expression andpurification, the new 1E11 variants called 1E11.C2E1, 1E11.C2E3,1E11.C2E4 and 1E11.C2E5 were tested by competitive ELISA to determinetheir binding potency.

All selected Mabs (1E11.C2E1, 1E11.C2E3, 1E11.C2E4 and 1E11.C2E5) werepositive for binding human TLR4 with binding potency ranging from 29 to40 fold increase compared to the parental antibody 15C1 (FIG. 11 andTable 8).

TABLE 8 EC50 values of antibodies binding to human TLR4 determined byELISA and relative binding potency increase of 1E11 affinity maturedvariants 15C1 0.63 Reference EC₅₀ ug/mL 1E11 variants (CDRH1) 1E11.C11E11.C2 1E11.C3 1E11.C4 1E11.C5 1E11.C6 EC₅₀ 0.052 0.036 0.119 0.2510.087 0.061 ug/mL Relative 12 17 5 2.5 7 10 binding potency increase1E11 variants (CDRH3) 1E11.E1 1E11.E2 1E11.E3 1E11.E4 1E11.E5 EC₅₀ 0.1570.315 0.126 0.130 0.152 ug/mL Relative 4 2 5 5 4 binding potencyincrease 1E11 variants (CDRH1/ CDRL3) 1E11.C2E1 1E11.C2E3 1E11.C2E41E11.C2E5 EC₅₀ 0.021 0.016 0.015 0.017 ug/mL Relative 29 39 40 36binding potency increase

Binding tests were also conducted with cynomolgus monkey TLR4.Interestingly, mutations in the CDRH1 (C1, C2, C3, C4, C5 and C6)increase binding of 1E11 modified antibody to cynomolgus monkey TLR4,but mutations in CDRL3 (E1, E2, E3, E4 and E5) decrease or almostabolish antibody binding to this molecule (Table 9 and FIG. 12).

TABLE 9 Cross-reactivity of affinity matured anti-TLR4 antibodies.Species binding Clone ID Heavy CDR1 Heavy CDR3 Light CDR3 potential 1E11GYSITGGYS ARKDSGNYFPY QQGHSFPLT Human: + (SEQ ID NO: 25) (SEQ ID NO: 27)(SEQ ID NO: 39) Cynomolgus monkey: + 1E11.C1 GFPIRYGYS ARKDSGNYFPYQQGHSFPLT Human: ++ (SEQ ID NO: 55) (SEQ ID NO: 27) (SEQ ID NO: 39)Cynomolgus 1E11.C2 GYPIRFGYS ARKDSGNYFPY QQGHSFPLT monkey:++(SEQ ID NO: 56) (SEQ ID NO: 27) (SEQ ID NO: 39) 1E11.C3 GYPIRHGYSARKDSGNYFPY QQGHSFPLT (SEQ ID NO: 57) (SEQ ID NO: 27) (SEQ ID NO: 39)1E11.C4 GFPIGQGYS ARKDSGNYFPY QQGHSFPLT (SEQ ID NO: 58) (SEQ ID NO: 27)(SEQ ID NO: 39) 1E11.C5 GYPIWGGYS ARKDSGNYFPY QQGHSFPLT (SEQ ID NO: 59)(SEQ ID NO: 27) (SEQ ID NO: 39) 1E11.C6 GYPIGGGYS ARKDSGNYFPY QQGHSFPLT(SEQ ID NO: 60) (SEQ ID NO: 27) (SEQ ID NO: 39) 1E11.E1 GYSITGGYSARKDSGNYFPY QQGNDFPVT Human: + (SEQ ID NO: 25) (SEQ ID NO: 27)(SEQ ID NO: 61) Cynomolgus 1E11.E2 GYSITGGYS ARKDSGNYFPY QQGYDEPFTmonkey: +/− (SEQ ID NO: 25) (SEQ ID NO: 27) (SEQ ID NO: 62) 1E11.E3GYSITGGYS ARKDSGNYFPY QQGYDFPLT (SEQ ID NO: 25) (SEQ ID NO: 27)(SEQ ID NO: 63) 1E11.E4 GYSITGGYS ARKDSGNYFPY QQGYDYPLT (SEQ ID NO: 25)(SEQ ID NO: 27) (SEQ ID NO: 64) 1E11.E5 GYSITGGYS ARKDSGNYFPY QQGYEFPLT(SEQ ID NO: 25) (SEQ ID NO: 27) (SEQ ID NO: 65) 1E11.C2E1 GYPIRFGYSARKDSGNYFPY QQGNDFPVT Humam: +++ (SEQ ID NO: 56) (SEQ ID NO: 27)(SEQ ID NO: 61) Cynomolgus 1E11.C2E3 GYPIRFGYS ARKDSGNYFPY QQGYDFPLTmonkey: + (SEQ ID NO: 56) (SEQ ID NO: 27) (SEQ ID NO: 63) 1E11.C2E4GYPIRFGYS ARKDSGNYFPY QQGYDYPLT (SEQ ID NO: 56) (SEQ ID NO: 27)(SEQ ID NO: 64) 1E11.C2E5 GYPIRFGYS ARKDSGNYFPY QQGYEFPLT(SEQ ID NO: 56) (SEQ ID NO: 27) (SEQ ID NO: 65) ConsensusG(F/Y)PI(R/G/W) ARKDSG(N/Q/D/E) QQG(Y/N)(D/E) (Y/F/G)GYS (hydrophobic)(F/Y)P (SEQ ID NO: 110) (hydrophobic)PY (hydrophobic)T (SEQ ID (SEQ IDNO: 111) NO: 112)

It is therefore possible to predict antibody binding specificitydepending on its CDR compositions and based on the relative bindingpotency and TLR4 cross-reactivity.

Effectively, antibodies having the heavy chain CDRs composed of CDR1sequence GYSITGGYS (SEQ ID NO: 25) or a CDR1 with the consensus sequenceG(FN)PI(R/G/W)(Y/F/G)GYS (SEQ ID NO: 110); CDR2 sequence IHYSGYT (SEQ IDNO: 26); CDR3 with the consensus sequence ARKDSG(N/Q/D/E)(X₁)(X₂)PY (SEQID NO: 111) where X₁ and X₂ are each independently any hydrophobic aminoacid, and the light chain CDRs composed of CDR1 sequence QSISDH (SEQ IDNO: 37); CDR2 sequence YAS (SEQ ID NO: 38); and CDR3 sequence QQGHSFPLT(SEQ ID NO: 39), are human/cynomolgus monkey TLR4 cross-reactive.

Antibodies having the heavy chain CDRs composed of CDR1 with theconsensus sequence G(F/Y)PI(R/G/W)(Y/F/G)GYS (SEQ ID NO: 110), CDR2sequence IHYSGYT (SEQ ID NO: 26), CDR3 with the consensus sequenceARKDSG(N/Q/D/E)(X₁)(X₂)PY (SEQ ID NO: 111) where X₁ and X₂ are eachindependently any hydrophobic amino acid, and the light chain CDRscomposed of CDR1 sequence QSISDH (SEQ ID NO: 37); CDR2 sequence YAS (SEQID NO: 38); CDR3 sequence QQGHSFPLT (SEQ ID NO: 39) or CDR3 with theconsensus sequence QQG(Y/N)(D/E)(F/Y)PXT (SEQ ID NO: 112, where X is anyhydrophobic amino acid), are human/cynomolgus monkey TLR4 cross-reactivewith increased binding potency to human TLR4 compared to the 15C1parental antibody.

Example 9. Inhibition of LPS-Activation of TLR4

LPS-induced activation of TLR4 results in the activation of the NF-κBsignaling pathway. To test the inhibition of this signaling pathway,THP1-Blue™-CD14 cells (Invivogen), which express human TLR4/MD2 complexwere used and stably transfected with a reporter gene with NFκBresponsive elements. TLR4 antibodies were tested in this assay asdescribed earlier. FIG. 13 shows the results of the inhibition ofLPS-induced downstream signaling cascade of TLR4 by selected Mabs (15C1and 1E11.E2). Interestingly, despite a 2 fold increase in bindingpotency of 1E11.E2 compared to the parental 15C1, this antibody did notshow increased inhibition potency of LPS induced TLR4 signaling comparedto 15C1.

In vivo, TLR4 activation by LPS results in the production of IL-6 bymacrophages. To test 1E11, 1E11.C2 and 1E11.C2E3 potency ex vivo, theseantibodies were produced as described previously and tested in human andcynomolgus monkey whole blood assay. This experiment consists to measurethe inhibition of IL-6 production when LPS-activation of TLR4 isblocked.

Briefly, blood was diluted in an equal amount of RPMI 1640 and spread inU-bottom 96-well plates. Dilutions of antibodies (9 concentrationsbetween 20 μg/mL and 305 pg/mL, final concentrations) were prepared inRPMI 1640 and added in triplicate to blood. One hour later, LPS (0.25ng/mL final concentration in RPMI 0.1% FCS) was added to wells andincubated 24 h at 37° C. and 5% of CO2. After incubation, supernatantswere harvested carefully and frozen for further analysis. IL-6 levelswere measured in supernatants according to the instruction of theMilliplex kit for use with the Luminex 200 reader. Raw data wereobtained and analyzed by the Milliplex Analyst software.

In human whole blood assay, the IC₅₀ of 1E11.C2 and 1E11.C2E3 were of 70ng/mL and 50 ng/mL, respectively. In comparison to 15C1, the parentalantibody which has an IC₅₀ of approximately 220 ng/mL, these antibodiesare 3-fold and 5-fold better, respectively, at blocking human TLR4 (FIG.14). Interestingly for 1E11.C2, a 17 fold increase in binding potencytranslated in a 3-fold increase in blocking potency while, for1E11.C2E3, a 40-fold increase in binding potency correlated with a5-fold increase in blocking potency.

In cynomolgus monkey whole blood assay conducted with 2 animal samples,the 1E11.C2 antibody blocked TLR4-activation by LPS with an IC₅₀ ofapproximately 500 ng/mL (FIG. 15).

OTHER EMBODIMENTS

While the invention has been described in conjunction with the detaileddescription thereof, the foregoing description is intended to illustrateand not limit the scope of the invention, which is defined by the scopeof the appended claims. Other aspects, advantages, and modifications arewithin the scope of the following claims.

1-32. (canceled)
 33. A method of treating scleroderma in a subject inneed thereof, comprising administering to the subject a compositioncomprising an antibody that binds specifically to Toll-like Receptor 4(TLR4), wherein the antibody comprises: a) a heavy chain variable regioncomprising a complementarity determining region 1 (CDRH1) comprising theamino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 25; a complementarity determiningregion 2 (CDRH2) comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 26; acomplementarity determining region 3 (CDRH3) comprising the amino acidsequence of SEQ ID NO: 44; and b) a light chain variable regioncomprising a complementarity determining region 1 (CDRL1) comprising theamino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 37; a complementarity determiningregion 2 (CDRL2) comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 38;and a complementarity determining region 3 (CDRL3) comprising the aminoacid sequence of SEQ ID NO:
 39. 34. The method of claim 33, wherein thescleroderma is systemic sclerosis (SS).
 35. The method of claim 33,wherein the antibody comprises a heavy chain variable region comprisingthe amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 43 and a light chain variableregion comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:
 4. 36. Themethod of claim 33, wherein the antibody is a monoclonal antibody. 37.The method of claim 33, wherein the antibody is a humanized antibody.38. The method of claim 33, wherein the antibody is an IgG isotype. 39.The method of claim 38, wherein said antibody is an IgG1 isotype. 40.The method of claim 39, wherein amino acid residues at positions 325-328(EU numbering) of the CH2 domain of a IgG1 consist of an amino acidmotif of SKAF (SEQ ID NO: 42).